The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana, Rt. Rev. Dr Lt Col Bliss Divine Agbeko (Rtd), has cautioned church leaders against making pronouncements that could inflame emotions and create divisions within their congregations and the wider society.
He warned that recent offensive and disparaging remarks, including what he described as fabricated falsehoods and accusations levelled by some senior pastors against their colleagues, did not promote spiritual growth, peace or unity in the Church.
Rt. Rev. Dr Lt Col Agbeko gave the caution at Kpong in the Eastern Region during a commissioning service for newly trained pastors who had completed their theological studies at the Trinity Theological Seminary, Legon.
In all, seven pastor trainees, including a woman, took their vows in line with the commissioning rites ahead of their probationary ministerial service at their respective pastoral stations.
The Moderator urged Christian leaders to be guided by their faith and uphold values such as integrity, modesty, humility, tolerance and dedication to duty, saying these were essential to inspire trust among their followers and position the Church as a credible institution.
He noted that leaders must ensure the Church reflected the Kingdom of God, where His will was upheld among members, and called on them to serve as worthy instruments and disciples of Christ in transforming society.
He further stressed the need for the clergy to help curb what he described as rising moral decadence and indiscipline in society.
Rt. Rev. Dr Lt Col Agbeko also advised the newly commissioned pastors not to yield to influences that could weaken their faith but to build lives and character worthy of emulation as disciples of Christ.
For his part, the President of the Trinity Theological Seminary (TTS), Legon, Rev. Prof. Fred Mawusi Amevenku, called on pastors to recommit themselves to preaching the gospel with renewed dedication, particularly to those yet to embrace the Christian faith.
He said the Great Commission entrusted to believers required them to go into the world and make disciples, and urged pastors to continually seek divine strength through prayer to fulfil that mandate.
Rev. Prof. Amevenku further encouraged the newly appointed ministerial probationers to remain steadfast in their calling and serve with zeal, commitment and trust in God.
BY TIMES REPORTER
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