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ADDRESS OF CHAIRPERSON TO 36TH PRESBYTERY MEETING
Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert. (Isaiah 43:19)
By the grace of the Almighty God, we are once again gathered as one family belonging to one Presbytery in one Church having one Lord, one faith and one baptism (Ephesians 4:5).
About a year ago, God spoke through majority of the delegates to the 35th Conference of the Ga Presbytery hosted by Ashaiman which met here at the Abokobi Women�s Centre and I was elected as the 10th Chairman of this great and leading Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG). It was indeed the Lord�s doing and it is marvelous in our eyes!
I therefore lift up my voice to thank the All-present and Ever-living God for keeping His promises and His faithfulness. On behalf of my family�wife and children, I would like to express a sincere and profound gratitude to Presbytery for the confidence reposed in me to lead this remarkable Church community. I pay homage to my predecessors who for almost four decades have worked so hard in the past to bring the Presbytery to where it is at present. These past Chairmen include: Rev. E. A. Adzei; Rev. J.E. Svanikier; Rev. S.Q. Sowah; Rev. E. S. Mate-Kodjo; Rev. I. A. Sowah; Rev. E. Ayite-Atiapa; Rev. Dr. B. Y. Quarshie; Rev. Peter M. Kodjo and Rev. Dr. D.N.A. Kpobi. May the face of the omni-benevolent God be with them wherever they might be.
Again, I am greatly indebted to all those who, since I was voted into office about a year ago, have not ceased praying for me and my family. They have encouraged me with words of support and pieces of advice. Even if I am unable to mention your names�one after the other�in this my maiden address to Presbytery, I know you would not be forgotten by the ONE who inspired and encouraged you to do the good thing you did. My God richly bless you all!
I am also thankful to the present Clerk of Presbytery for her hard work. In spite of the fact that she is a full-time District Minister, is able to budget her time to satisfy both her work in the Presbytery office and in the District. I was aware of the negative factors that at first attempted to bring confusion�from both within and outside the Presbytery office, and I knew the motherly role that she played. Rev. Esther Abam Adjetey I thank you for your maturity and dedication to work.
Since I assumed office in September last year, I have witnessed the mighty hands of the Lord. Indeed, God has begun to do a new thing and to pave a way for me even in the wilderness. Despite all the obstacles, the faithful Lord has begun to clear them all to His glory. I am ceaselessly and absolutely depending on the power of the Holy Spirit to enable me have an unblurred vision of the state and destination of the Ga Presbytery.
I believe that a contemporary Church ought to have a mission, vision, goals and strategies. As we operate within the framework of the agenda of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana and, of the Presbytery, we will carefully embark upon monitoring and evaluation of the overall agenda of the Church and would not hesitate to bring a meaningful change in management style to achieve the desired goals and vision�including the vision of our evangelistic and spiritual awakening endeavours.
A hallmark of great leadership is the strategic management and implementation of a carefully designed strategic plan that addresses the totality of human existence. Church management is different, in that, it is characterized by a combination of both Spiritual (Divine) and Organizational (Human) attributes. Each of these has its own challenges, prospects and opportunities.
PROMOTING NEW CHURCH MANAGEMENT STYLE
The Church is at once a spiritual and human institution. Because of this unique dual nature of the Church, it requires both spiritual and organizational management. Blending the spiritual and the organizational becomes a tremendous challenge in Church management. Leadership of any Church is therefore faced with the bewildering challenge of executing a spiritual mission through organizational management.
In Church management, there has always been the danger of mismatching spiritual and organizational responses. On the one hand, spiritual insensitivity which manifests itself in unbiblical, legal and humanistic interpretation of events and experiences; uncritical and indiscriminate application of secular management techniques to church�s setting, and the election or appointment of individuals to positions of trust who have no personal commitment or relationship with Jesus Christ. Because of its spiritual nature, the Church is different from other organizations and must not be managed exclusively in a secular manner. I have had the opportunity to look at the strategic plans of some Churches including those of Districts and Congregations within the Ga Presbytery, and one wonders whether these are plans designed for the Church of Christ.
On the other hand, managerial insensitivity which harbours the belief that it is a waste of money to employ full-time, well-qualified administrators, secretaries, and accountants for the Church; and, organizational matters are considered unimportant is doing the Church more harm than good. Besides, there is the lack of managerial training for those working in the Church including ministers, catechists, and caretakers. There are churches which do not keep proper records of how monies are allocated and spent. Consequently, mismanagement and dissipation of Church�s funds are not checked and culprits go unpunished.
Furthermore, there is the wrong notion that problems in the Church would correct themselves if left alone and thus, serious problems such as tribalism, dissipation of Church funds, mismanagement of Church projects and properties, witchcraft, fornication, adultery, premature death, nominalism, young people leaving the Presbyterian Church to other churches, and increasing number of non-communicants in our Church are left unaddressed. The time has come for an attitudinal change to these things.
It is imperative, therefore, to emphasize that neither the spiritual nor the organizational will take care of themselves without meaningful planning and conscientious management. The two are complementary and inseparable. A healthy Church is a blending of spiritual and managerial excellence; and, God permitting, this is what we will do.
We, as a Presbytery, will seek to accomplish our mission and goals by allowing our managerial responses to organizational challenges have spiritual purposes and ends.
In recent years, the development of a well-defined vision and strategies for the Christian Church and how to line up committed and relevant people behind such vision and strategies have taken on a very new and challenging dimension.
Fortunately, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is offering comprehensive technology solutions to connect and to empower. For example, there is Church Management software that provides a full range of membership management functionality and can handle an unlimited number of members. With such software, a church can track members, families, attendance, groups, finances, donations, tithes, pledges, and outreach programmes. In addition to powerful church management software are web solutions which could be used to streamline operations, foster collaborations and improve communication within the Presbytery. Technology is thus available to help the Church accomplish her mission. I urge Districts and Congregations to make good use of ICT to fulfill their spiritual and organizational tasks.
About seven years ago, the Ga Presbytery Conference took a decision to computerize every District and congregation within a period of two years. Those two years had come and gone; while some Districts and Congregations have been able to computerize, others are yet to do so. Now, we have entered into a new phase�a time to hook all computers on to the Internet. Any District or Congregation that will need direction in this regard can contact the Presbytery Office for assistance.
To facilitate quick communication process in the Presbytery, the Presbytery Office has created email addresses for every District and very soon this would be the primary means of communication with the Districts. I encourage every District to extend this facility to their Congregations and Preaching Points and inform Presbytery accordingly.
If agents of the Church are to perform admirably, then, they ought to be equipped with the necessary tools that are needed to increase performance. I therefore encourage every District and congregation to provide ministers and catechists in charge of congregations having office facilities with computers to enhance their work.
EVANGELISM AND SPIRITUAL AWAKENING
At the heart of every Christian mission is Evangelism�the gift and task of conveying the Gospel message to the unsaved and the perishing with such clarity and power that those hearing it are moved to respond to the claims of Jesus Christ (cf. Ephesians 4:11-12). The Church�s evangelism is therefore at once a Gift and a Task. It is a gift given by the Holy Spirit to equip believers in the Church for work of ministry or Christian service so that the Body of Christ would be edified. It is also a common commitment to the Great Commission which is the central mission of the Church. It is the call of God to all Christians to proclaim the Gospel to all people of all places by whatever means and wherever God places us as Christians.
We will see to it that all the good ideas developed in the Presbytery�s Medium-Term Strategic Plan (2007 to 2011) commit all Departments and Departmental Committees to ensure effective implementation and achievement of the Church�s main objective mission of Evangelism and Spiritual awakening.
For the Ga Presbytery to succeed in our Evangelism programmes, the Presbytery�s evangelistic philosophy and strategy for Ministry must, first of all, be very clear to all agents who will in turn clarify this to every church member who is to be mobilized for evangelism. That is the reason why the Presbytery has decided to run a continuous school of Evangelism for all Ministers and Lay agents. The Presbytery will foster new and innovative ways of making resources available to agents and congregations as a support system for training and the implementation of evangelism and church growth strategies. The Media Ministry just begun would be intensified and extended to help us accomplish our evangelistic mission.
If our Evangelism enterprise would enable us to reach out mainly to unbelievers and target people outside of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana; our Spiritual Awakening, Renewal and Revival programme of activities in the Presbytery would be directed mainly (but not exclusively) at Church members to be spiritually awake, lead the victorious Christian life and be able to resist every activity of the devil. It is to assist members with practical ways of moving on to Spiritual Maturity.
The Presbytery Chairman would, from June-July this year (2008), launch a Spiritual awakening campaign with the view to breathing Spiritual life into members of our Church to be able to live again more vigorously with a renewed zeal to obey and serve the Lord. I therefore want to make a humble appeal to you all for your personal prayers and support. Because without direction and empowerment from the Almighty God, and your cooperation no agenda, however splendid, good and noble would be able to succeed.
In this reawakening campaign, the Chairman would pay a pastoral visit to every District within the Presbytery. In each District, he would be there for a week visiting all congregations discussing administrative and other matters with Sessions, agents and presbyters and on the evenings of Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, there would be Healing and Revival Services at one or more of the Stations. The pastoral visit would conclude with the Divine Service on Sunday. The visitation weeks would alternate with Office work at the Presbytery Headquarters, Kukuhill, Osu. As soon as we close from Presbytery, the itinerary schedule to this effect would be communicated to enable Districts to plan for the second half of the year and beyond.
Furthermore, to satisfy the spiritual needs of church members and, to help find solutions to their spiritual problems, the Presbytery is going to establish a Healing and Deliverance Centre at Damfa. Already, the structural drawings of the site are ready and a Committee is being put in place to manage the Centre. One greatest challenge facing the setting up of the Centre is how to finance the whole project. But by the grace of God, some individual donations have started coming in. Besides, all proceeds from the evening revivals programmes during the Chairman�s visit to Districts will go into this Damfa Project. Usually, when people realize what God has done for them in healing and revival services, some would like to respond to their healing by giving thanks to God in the form donations. All these donations�in cash or kind�would be channeled into this project.
Mr. Chairman, Presbytery, please at this point, permit me to address certain issues bedeviling not only our Presbytery but also whole the Presbyterian Church of Ghana. These pose real challenges to us as Christians who claim to believe in Him who came to die for all humanity irrespective of nationality, race, colour or gender. Let me begin with the cancer (or demon) of ethnocentrism (i.e. tribalism) in the Church.
STATEMENT ON ETHNOCENTRISM OR TRIBALISM IN THE CHURCH
Today, we all live in a multi-cultural society. As a result of globalization and migration, our contemporary world has become pluralistic and monocultures are giving way to multi-cultures. Our Ghanaian situation is not an exception.
All around us, people of various socio-cultural backgrounds are coming closer to each other and this new situation compels the Christian Church in Ghana to seriously address this state of affairs and, even more so, to relate to this rapidly growing phenomenon.
Ghana, as a country, is a multi-cultural society. Although, politically Ghana may be defined as one nation, culturally Ghana consists of many �nations��namely,
Akuapem Nation called Okuapeman
Akyem Nation called Okyeman
Asante Nation called Asanteman
Ewe Nation called Ewe Dukɔ
Fante Nation called Mfantsiman
Ga Nation called Ga Maŋ
Kwahu Nation called Okwahuman and so forth.
The Church of Christ in Ghana is therefore a multi-cultural family whose members are related to one another because they each relates to Jesus Christ. We as a Presbytery, especially within a cosmopolitan setting, ought to be aware of this Christo-cultural link among believers.
Humanly speaking, we must admit that it is a universal experience that people of different cultures and ethnic origins speaking different languages do not find it easy getting along with each other peacefully. In a multi-cultural society, people of the same language and culture naturally tend to gather together into one group where they are known, understood, recognized and respected. They also tend to think of other people speaking different language and having different cultural practices as strangers or foreigners. They may even despise others as less worthy or less intelligent.
Unfortunately, such cultural prejudices are also found and experienced in the churches and among Christians. These prejudices may lead to criticism, suspicion, lack of trust, lack of communication, unfriendliness and even open hostility.
In the cities, it is commonplace to see two church buildings of the same denomination standing a few distance from each other; one belonging to Ethnic Group A and the other to Ethnic Group B. In most cases, members of both churches/congregations were originally worshipping together and the split came on ethnic or tribal lines; even though one chapel could comfortably accommodate all of them. Such a thing hampers and adversely affects Christian witness and Evangelism.
Common dangers facing multi-cultural church community such as ours in the Ga Presbytery are numerous and include: ethnocentrism or tribalism; xenophobia; disunity; disagreement; suspicion; contempt; hate and quarrelling.
These and other cultural prejudices are to be combated by all means in the Ga Presbytery and the whole of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana. We must never keep quiet over it in the open. The time has come to exorcise the demon of tribalism in our Church community. The Bible does not keep quiet over such cancerous behaviour. In fact, cultural prejudice or combating it is not new.
The Apostle Paul has to wrestle and deal decisively with some of these prejudices in the early churches. For instance, he had to urge the Philippians to �be of the same mind . . . united in Spirit, intent on one purpose� (Phil. 2:2). Again, he had to appeal to the Corinthians to �agree and that there be no dissension . . . but be united in the same mind and the same judgment� (1 Cor. 1:10). Paul had similar message for the Ephesians, urging them �to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called . . . . being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.� Eph. 4:1-3)
Cultural prejudice is an enemy of the Church and must not be tolerated in the community of believers; it renders the Church impotent, making its prayers powerless and its witness seriously damaged, because the power of the Holy Spirit would not be experienced among members. The Church in Ghana needs the Spiritual gift of Wisdom to get rid of this prejudiced behaviour.
How then do we overcome these multi-cultural problems? In Scripture, cultural prejudice is considered a sin, coming out of human pride. Its solution must therefore come from God. It cannot come from any human achievement. It is God in Christ Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit who gives solution to problems of ethnocentrism, tribalism and cultural prejudice.
The Biblical accounts of cultural prejudice in Acts chapters 6 and 10 and how these are solved should encourage us that the presence of tribalism and traces of cultural prejudice in our churches is not a hopeless situation. In Acts chapter 6 for example, the Greek-Speaking (Hellenistic) Christians complain about the discrimination against their widows in the daily distribution by the Hebrew Christians. But the Holy Spirit gave the early Church leaders the wisdom to get rid of this prejudice behaviour (Acts 6:1-6).
The time has come for the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, especially, Ga Presbytery�as the leading Presbytery�to address this issue and allow the Holy Spirit to lead us as the first Christians allowed the same Spirit to instruct them. As the mantle has now fallen on me as the Chairman of the Presbytery, I want to break the culture of silence on this matter and go further to put forward some general principles which we, as Christians, should know when dealing with problems of ethnocentrism and cultural prejudice within the context of multi-cultural community such as ours.
First, it is good to know that the Bible is not silent on such matters as cultural prejudice, partiality and favouritism. In Scripture, the attitude of cultural prejudice is regarded as a sin. It breaks the Divine law. In James 2:9, we are admonished: �But if you show favouritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as law breakers� (NIV; the RSV uses �partiality�). The Christian ethos against such prejudice is found in what Paul tells all Christians through the Philippian Church. He writes in Philippians 2:3; �Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.�
Second, there is the need to display the Christian sense of love and humility. An attitude of humility is what would demonstrate the love of Christ. Love for the fellow Christian is a command and not an option�Christ Jesus says in John 15:12; �This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.� Love for the fellow Christian also demonstrates that we are indeed Christ�s disciples (John 13:35). To triumph over ethnocentrism and cultural prejudice, the Christian need unselfish love and humility.
Third, the selection of church leaders must follow Biblical patterns and principles. Today, the mission of the Church is adversely affected in many areas because of bad leadership selected on tribal affiliation and loyalty, as well as on other human abilities. In Acts 6, the Church relied on God to select seven persons who were �full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom� (Acts 6:3).
Finally, cross-cultural evangelization is necessary in our Ghanaian multi-cultural context. Cross-cultural evangelization is the communication of the Gospel of Christ by members of one ethnic group having its own language and culture, to another ethnic group with different language and culture. For example, a Ghanaian from the South working among other Ghanaians from the North in Accra would be engaged in cross-cultural evangelization, although he or she is working in the South�as we have in some congregations of the Northern Outreach Programme (NOP) within PCG.
Cross-cultural evangelization is necessary because Christ�s command in Matthew 28:19-20 (the Great Commission) requires that all nations�that is, all ethnic and cultural groups�be reached and discipled. Besides, Christ�s saying in Acts 1:8 compels the Church to embark upon cross-cultural evangelism. If one looks at the situation in Ghana, one finds out that there are certain areas and settlements where people can only be reached through cross-cultural evangelization. Furthermore, there are people in Ghana who can only be evangelized by Christians who are prepared to cross cultural barriers.
The Ga Presbytery has become the melting pot of diverse cultures and traditions and I believe the greatness of this Presbytery is contained in its increasingly pluralistic culture which has become a gorgeous mosaic of ecclesial beauty and growth. The future of the Ga Presbytery and, indeed, of the whole of the Presbyterian Church does not lie with any single ethnic group. The future lies with the collective responsibility and vision of all Presbyterians in this country no matter where they are coming from and no matter what language they speak.
The Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Prince of Peace Congregation, Tema Community Two provides us with an excellent example of cross-section of Ghana Presbyterianism and it has proved to be a success story. In the 1970s and early part of the 1980s, there were only two Districts in the whole township of Tema�Tema Manhean and Tema Community One on the Greenwich Meridian. Under Community One District were two other pastoral stations�Communities Two and Four.
Of the three congregations, Community One was predominantly Ga speaking, Community Four (now Tema North) was predominantly Akan. Community Two had almost equal numbers of Ga and Akan with a fraction of Ewe; and during that time this composition formed the cross-section of Ghana Presbyterianism. All the three languages were heard during worship service. It was later that the Northern language groups became significant part of Ghana Presbyterianism, especially with the emergence of the Northern Outreach Programme (NOP).
Today, Presbytery records show that Tema Community Two has grown stronger than the other two congregations almost combined. This is a success story of peaceful coexistence between and among Christians coming from different cultural backgrounds. Unless we learn how to work together in harmony and in peace, we will drift apart and destroy ourselves and others simply because we speak different languages or belong to a different ethnic group.
To promote and uphold peaceful co-existence among the ethnic groups in the Presbytery, I am proposing the establishment of a Special Chairman�s Annual Award to be given to the Congregation within the Presbytery that encourages and best promotes peace and harmony among ethnic groups in that church community. Districts are encouraged to embark upon cross-cultural evangelism and also establish multi-ethic congregations. This Award is to be presented every year on Presbytery Sunday and would begin next year 2009. Eminent persons would be drawn from the Presbytery to act in an advisory capacity and to bring recommendations to Presbytery Council.
PROMOTING ENHANCEMENT OF CHURCH LIFE
The PCG has had a long history of strong and viable teaching programmes among children, youth and adults. However, the tendency in Christian education is to be stuck to the old conventional ways of doing things. In an information and communication technology age people especially, children and young people are to be handled and dealt with in a new and innovative manner. Today, there are social changes of urbanization, and the dominant use of the English language in Christian worship, easy availability and accessibility of information, and general use of ICT have become more attractive to young people than ever.
A sizable number of our young people enter the universities as Presbyterians but never come out as our Church members because they are attracted to the use of the English language but especially, modern equipments like the power point which projects songs and Scripture readings on screens and other worship innovations which modern technology offers. It is commendable that most Districts in the Presbytery have incorporated English services into their Sunday worship programmes and some have begun using power point facilities. I encourage all congregations in the Presbytery to use ICT to enhance worship, disseminate biblical knowledge and as an effective tool for learning and development.
The time has come for the Presbytery to show much more interest and commitment to the programme of activities of the National Union of Presbyterian Students (NUPS-G) especially, the University of Ghana branch which is near us. I am recommending to Presbytery, the establishment of a Fund purposely for use in Presbyterian Students in Church Evangelism (P-SICE) programme so that during the vacation students in the Presbytery are allocated certain areas they can go to embark upon evangelism and other outreach programmes. The Presbytery now has acquired an Evangelism van and this would also be place at the disposal of the students for evangelism in the Presbytery. It is disturbing to note that some denominations have got chapels built on the University of Ghana campus but Presbyterians have none. The Presbytery should play a key role in providing a worshipping place for Presbyterian students.
Presently, the Church has appointed a chaplain for the University students but he lacks the necessary tools needed to perform his duties effectively. For our Church to have impact on young people in the Universities and Senior High Schools in Accra, there is the need for a detached or full-time Chaplain for Presbyterian students to minister to institutions which have no resident chaplains. This will involve the provision of accommodation and vehicle. If the Fund I am proposing is established and managed well together with the students of the Universities in Accra, much would be achieved and we would be able to fulfill our mission to the youth in academic institutions.
Presbytery is also encouraging local congregations close to Universities in Accra especially, University of Ghana to involve students in their Church programmes. If the University Chaplain comes to your Districts please, cooperate for this exercise to succeed.
We would also support and promote youth work in the Districts and Congregations. The Presbytery, in conjunction with the Church Life and Nurture Directorate and the Presbytery Committee on Youth Ministry would begin promoting Soccer Competition among Young People�s Guild (YPG) members in the Districts. There would be separate competition for both male and female members. The Chairman of Presbytery would donate two silver cups for the separate competitions. Included in the aims of these competitions is the promotion of peaceful coexistence among young people of diverse ethnic backgrounds. In future, we may also think of non-competitive fun-matches involving ministers, catechists, caretakers and presbyters in the Presbytery.
On our ministry to the Children, the Presbytery will continue to show more interest in the work of the Children Service Teachers and see to it that they are well equipped to instruct our children. The Presbytery is going to play more active role in the programme of activities of the Committee on Children�s Ministry, especially, during the celebration of Children�s Week and Sunday.
On Children�s Sunday, one or two key Districts would be chosen and the Presbytery Officers�Chairman and Clerk and some Council members�would celebrate with children in the key Districts. During the Sunday Forenoon service, Chairman shall present awards to deserving Children Service Teachers including winners of the Annual Bible Quiz Competition. Individual Church members who have also contributed in a special way to Children�s ministry would be acknowledged.
Again, on the Children�s Sunday, children should be encouraged and be prepared by their teachers and agents to conduct the whole service. The liturgy, Bible Readings and sermon should be done by the children and where possible, a respectable parent be allowed to give a short address to encourage the children to imitate Christ.
Furthermore, on Children�s Sunday, all parents are urged to let their children dress in traditional African attire to Church. This will begin in the year 2009 and would continue for all time to come.
Adult ministry would also be promoted. All Districts and local ministers who are not all that interested in the activities of the Men�s Fellowship or the Women�s Fellowship are urged to take the adult ministry seriously. Congregations and Preaching Points that have not yet established Men�s Fellowship branches are encouraged to do so.
There is a great concern among officers of the Men�s Fellowship in the Presbytery that that there have always been undue delays in the release of proceeds after Men�s Sunday celebration. I urge all District Ministers and local agents to see to it that Directors of Finance release proceeds after anniversary celebration to all the groups in the Church without delay. No Director of Finance has the right to detain any money belonging to a Church group or the whole Church. Theirs is to release the money as responsibly directed by the Agent and the Session.
Presbytery wants to assure the Committee on Ministry to the Aged that the recommendation that came up at the seminar on the aged organized late last year to see to it that old people�s home is built at Abokobi will receive the attention it deserves. I encourage the Committee to write formally for Presbytery Council to take a firm decision on it.
I encourage every District and Congregation to identify the older people among them and see to it that all the aged are registered with the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS). Where and individual old person is unable to afford the registration fee, the local or District must assist. If a District is having a problem in this matter, the Presbytery should be consulted.
I encourage every congregation to celebrate the Senior Citizen Day. Presbytery officers would identify certain congregations to celebrate the Day with them. No agent or session should force the aged to pay tithes, and no minister, catechist, caretaker or presbyter should prevent the burial service of a communicant senior citizen at the chapel on the grounds that they have not been paying tithes. Congregations should also not wait until Christmas to donate to the aged. This should be done at least every quarter.
AWARDS FOR PRESBYTERIAN SCHOOLS WITHIN THE PRESBYTERY
As a Church, our vision in education is clear. We aim at providing a Christ-centred education with high moral character through the promotion of discipline in our schools. We as a Presbytery, we assist in the provision of a holistic development of human and material resources by
� Ensuring the improvement of access and participation in Basic, Secondary and Vocational schools through the provision of infrastructure support to existing institutions and the opening of new ones.
� Ensuring the improvement of management efficiency through capacity building and monitoring.
� Ensuring the improvement of quality teaching and learning supervision, supply of teaching and learning materials and support to the needy.
� Ensuring the strengthening of the Regional/District/Local offices with supply of needed logistics and financial empowerment of our schools. For example, this year, the Presbytery has provided the Regional Office with a Computer. More of such things are in the pipe line.
� Setting up structures for effective monitoring and periodic assessment of school activities at the various districts and locals. For example, Disciplinary Committees etc. and reporting back to the appropriate quarters.
� Ensuring the extension of functional literacy opportunities to all church communities.
� Improving upon Church participation and involvement in school activities through the conduction of worship, Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), Schools Management Committees (SMC) and School Boards.
All these objectives could only be achieved through active participation of our churches and especially the local ministers who are the local managers of our schools.
To promote and encourage academic excellence in our Basic and Secondary schools, and to facilitate the implementation and execution these objectives to accelerate the means of how to achieve our vision goals, I am proposing two things: First, the institution of an Award Scheme at the Presbytery level for best academic performance in the BECE for Junior High Schools and WASSCE for Senior High Schools. In both, the best school and best pupil/student in the Presbytery would be awarded. The awards which would be presented on Presbytery Sunday would include cash prize for students and ICT equipments for institutions. The Presbytery believes that technology has the potential for the dissemination and acquisition of knowledge as well as effective learning and development. We therefore encourage the use of ICT which if used positively would bring about effective development. We condemn the negative use of ICT; for example, in the acts of fraud and pornography.
Second, I am proposing a periodic (say, every quarter) meeting of all heads of Presbyterian Basic and Secondary schools in the Presbytery under the Chairmanship of the Director of Education who is also the Regional Manager of Presbyterian schools. These will include all Nursery; Kindergarten; Primary; Junior High Schools; Senior High Schools and Vocational institutes. These quarterly meetings would be held at the Jubilee House, Osu at the expense of the Presbytery.
THE GA PRESBYTERY BIBLE SCHOOL
The Ga Presbytery Bible School has come to fill a gap which had existed for a long time and has begun training lay people in a systematic manner which affords the ordinary Church member the opportunity to be exposed to unadulterated, sound biblical and doctrinal teachings by well-qualified and credible lecturers. Theological education has always been a tool that facilitates the training and equipping of the whole people of God for variety of Church leadership roles and ministries.
We as a Presbytery, we are blessed for a school such as this. We must therefore begin harvesting the fruits now. But we can derive maximum benefits from the Bible School if all Church agents, especially, District Ministers take it upon themselves to promote and market the school in their districts and local congregations. This should be done in such a way that would encourage ordinary church members to seek theological or doctrinal training which is not the exclusive prerogative of people seeking ordination.
There are Christians who will not seek seminary degrees. There are still others who will go to seminaries or Bible school or, will study theology but will not seek ordination. But such people, with the theological training, can take different church leadership roles to build the Church.
I am informed that the Bible School is not well patronized by the districts. In some churches, people are even unaware of the existence of the school. I encourage Districts and Congregations to candidate, support and sponsor church members to study at the school. One Church member is too old to study at our Bible School. Quite recently, we all read at the front pages of Ghanaian newspapers about a man (John Harry Johnson) who graduated from the University of Cape Coast at the age of 83.
Let us support our church members to study at the Bible School. To encourage this, from now on, all church members above the age of 60 (those we call senior citizens), who desire to study at the Bible School will do so free of charge. The Director and the Board Chairman of the school should take steps to effect this.
ABOKOBI CHIEFTAINCY AND THE LOCAL SESSION
For over a century, the name Abokobi has been a pride of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG) and of Christianity in this country. It is a town with a Biblical tradition. Abokobi began as a model Christian community in the mid-Nineteenth century with a high moral standard and a good sense of discipline. Anyone with a questionable character was never allowed to reside on Abokobi land.
But perhaps the most distinctive feature of Abokobi pertains to its chieftaincy and the way Abokobi citizens are governed. Abokobi chieftaincy institution is very unique. Its uniqueness is contained in the fact that the modus operandi for selecting and installing Chief of Abokobi meticulously follows Christian principles and Biblical values. The Chief of Abokobi does not go through any traditional ritual like other Ghanaian chiefs. It is the Church that nominates, vets, elects and installs the Chief. That every ceremony concerning the appointment of the Chief is performed purely as a Christian function without traditional ritual is a valuable heritage worth preserving for all generations to come. They are treasures which the founding fathers have bestowed to posterity which ought to be faithfully and forcefully proclaimed and jealously safeguarded.
However, for some time now, there has been a rancour smoldering between the local Session and the Chieftaincy to the extent that a letter was written by Session disciplining the Chief �for misconduct� and suspending him from attending Session meetings. Presbytery investigation into the matter has led to the withdrawal of the letter and the appointment of Rev E. O. Tettey as the Presbytery�s Representative to liaise between the Presbytery and Abokobi.
The situation prevailing at Abokobi presently calls for a more cautious approach in dealing with the matter. Consequently, the Presbytery has determined to go to the roots of the matter and would therefore, sit down with all the stakeholders in the affairs, namely; the Session, the Chief, Nii Samuel Adjetey Mohenu, and Koishie�the Council of Elders.
There has never been an official residence or palace for the Chief of Abokobi and the present Chief lives outside the town which has been one of the major reasons for the recent acrimony. Another major bone of contention is the sales of Abokobi lands which the chief feels he has been sidelined and Session is handling everything.
Looking at the uniqueness of chieftaincy in Abokobi, there is the need for an official residence for the Chief and, therefore, Presbytery is proposing the construction of a Church Hall Palace, an idea which has been embraced by both Session and the Chief.
Quite recently, a portion of land has been leased to the Ga East District Assembly for the construction of office blocks at the cost of GH�40,000.00 (or �400m). Out of this amount, 40% (i.e. GH�16,000.00 or �160m) went to the Head Office in Accra and the Presbytery, Abokobi District, and the Local Congregation received 20% each amounting to GH�8,000.00 (or �80m).
I am appealing to all recipients of this share to save Abokobi by returning the amounts received to be used for the construction of a suitable residence for the office of the Chief of Abokobi. I am also appealing to all Christians, churches, congregations organizations (governmental and non-governmental) as well individuals to contribute generously toward the project.
AGRICULTURAL STATIONS AT ABOKOBI & KATAMANSO
Due to mismanagement of the two Agricultural stations at Abokobi and Katamanso, workers at the stations had been laid off and since the beginning of the year only skeleton staff has been managing the two places. The skeleton staff (eight at Abokobi and four at Katamanso) was retained for three months (until the end of March) after which their contracts might be renewed every month until substantive project managers are appointed.
After giving them their gratification grants in January this year, the major challenge facing the Project is how to come out with the redundancy package for the twenty-two (22) workers (14 at Abokobi and 8 at Katamanso) who are being laid off. The estimated amount for the package for the twenty-two workers is GH�30,276.80 (�300, 276, 800.00). The Presbytery is working out the package for the laid-off workers.
To forestall such gross mismanagement occurrences to the detriment of both the project and the Church, the Presbytery has recommended to the General Assembly Council that managers at all PCG Agricultural stations in the country be rotated on regular basis�every four or five years. This would help prevent one person �hijacking� a particular station for a long time and becoming so powerful that he is left alone to �do his own thing� as the cases of the Presbyterian Agricultural Stations (PAS) at Abokobi and Katamanso have demonstrated.
PROMOTING INCOME GENERATION PROJECTS
A careful examination and study of the financial position of our Presbytery demonstrate that if we continue the way we are going, a time would come when we will come to a standstill and will no longer be able to finance our operations.
As we are all aware, Presbytery depends on the Districts for its financial support and the Districts also depend on the local congregations. If there is any one lesson that I have learnt since I assumed office as Presbytery Chairman�and this came out very clearly when I paid my first official visits to the Districts late last year�this has been the apathy among members in the payment of assessments.
I became convinced that the conventional ways of raising funds for the Church, including tithing, offertory, thanksoffering, anniversary celebration, and other donations mainly from individuals largely depend on people generosity. And the question is (and this question comes in the light of the apathy mentioned): What if people are no longer generous? The uncertainty in the way and manner the Church presently generates fund is not at all healthy. Simply put, it poses a great danger for us!
Has the time not come for the Church at all levels�General Assembly, Presbytery, District, Local�to embark upon viable income projects to finance our Evangelism and other important Church programmes?
I am charging the Department of Development and Social Services at all levels of the Church�s life to come out with income generating projects�however modest this may be�to take our Church out of this danger. I was able to mention some of the projects that Districts and local congregation could embark upon during my first official visit to the Districts.
At the Presbytery level, plans are far ahead to embark on a number of income generating projects that would be able to cushion and support Presbytery from a heavy fall. At this point, I would once again like to commend past Presbytery Councils and Chairmen for the foresight they had to put up a structure like Jubilee House at Kukuhill. I wish we had about three, four or more of such edifices spread over the city of Accra to generate much more income for the Presbytery.
Presently, the Presbytery has envisioned a number of projects if when vigorously pursued would generate enough income for the Presbytery. Studying the economic climate of Ghana, one would conclude that it is an opportune time for the Presbytery to invest in the banking industry and as a pilot scheme we can begin with one Rural Bank as we have in Abokobi or a Community Bank as we have in La. I am therefore calling on the Department of Finance with its Committee on Projects and Investments to initiate a process that would allow a feasibility study to be conducted so that by the end of 2008 the Presbytery should be able to register a limited liability company with Registrar General�s Department to obtain certificates of Incorporation and to commence business by next year.
Another project that the Presbytery has discussed is to be undertaken is Moringa Plantation in the Ga Mission Field�West. Moringa Oleifa is a wee-known plant that is used medicinally by local people in Africa, Asia and the Americas. Its traditional usage reflects the nutritional content of the various parts of the tree�the leaves, flowers, pods, roots and seeds. In recent times, scientific laboratory investigations have confirmed the efficacy of some of the application. Acres of land have already been acquired for the project to take off.
Another project that could generate income and at the same time provide essential social service is the Clinic project which is in the hands of the hands of the Committee on Health and Environment of the Department of Development and Social Services. Two places have been earmarked: Ga Mission Field�East (precisely, Oyibi) and Osu. The latter location would exclusively be used by the agents of the Church.
There is one project which when pursued and managed well would generate income for the Presbytery. In the early 1970s, the late Rev R. F. Mante and others compiled Eather and Christmas hymns for use by congregations in the Ga Presbytery. The use of these hymns, compiled into two separate hymn books enhanced worship services during the two festivities. Today they are no longer in use. The Presbytery wants to have these hymns reprinted into one volume to serve as supplementary hymnary. One advantage of these hymns is that solfa or staff notations are attached to them.
These hymns are only in Ga and therefore, the Presbytery will liaise with the General Assembly Office and other Presbyteries if these would be translated into Two or any other languages to benefit all Presbyteries. Chairman of Presbytery is in discussion with the Presbytery Choirs� Union on this matter.
Other projects have also been discussed but have not reached any advance stage.
MATTERS OF NATIONAL CONCERN
Please allow me to focus my attention on a few issues of national importance, especially, the 2008 General Elections and the New Educational Reforms.
GHANA�S 2008 ELECTIONS
Come December 2008, Ghana will go to the polls to elect a new government. All Ghanaian have to be thankful to God for the prevailing peaceful climate we have enjoyed in recent times as a nation. This peace must not be taken for granted.
Therefore, as we prepare for the polls, political parties and their sympathizers are advised to refrain from acts or statements that would ruin the country�s onward march to multiparty democracy. We call on all Christian Churches and other religious bodies to educate members since it is a known fact that, in other parts of the continent, politicians have used religion and tribalism to bring confusion and to destroy the lives of people and property.
The Ga Presbytery would like to see free and fair elections. We therefore call on all presidential candidates and their respective parties to commit themselves to an issue-based campaign that would move the nation forward and refrain from personal attacks which could lead to violence. We urge every party to champion positive campaigning of ideas and competing visions and not acrimony and violence.
In any general election such as ours, one will by all means lose. Two presidential candidates, for instance, cannot win in one and the same election. It is our hope that whoever loses would be able to display a deep sense of maturity and patriotism to accept defeat. And whoever wins must not adopt a �winner takes all� approach.
We, as Christians in this country, have a major role to play in the forthcoming elections. Therefore, to ensure free and fair elections in December, the Ga Presbytery will join other Christian Churches to liaise with the National Electoral Commission for accreditation to be domestic election observers to monitor the elections within the City of Accra and its environs. Christians in this country have a duty to ensure that Ghana is not derailed from the peaceful path of its democratic march.
THE NEW EDUCATIONAL REFORMS
In every country of the world, education has been the key to nation building, economic growth and human and material development. The quality of a nation�s educational structure determines the quality of that nation�s development and the living conditions of its people. It to this end that every national educational reform must be thoughtfully carried out and must aimed at improving the living standards of the people.
There has been a public outcry concerning the new education reforms programme introduced into the country recently. People are concerned that this new programme is encouraging parental irresponsibility in that children are sent off from home to school without food or money because some parents tell their children to go and eat at school under the school feeding programme even if the school that the child attends does not benefit from the feeding programme. While we call on parents to discharge their duties as parents and care for their children, we also urge the government to extend the programme to cover all schools. It would be difficult for people to understand why such a programme is limited to a few schools while others are left out.
Veritably, the Church as a major agency of education, has a key role to play in this reform programme and must therefore come together with all stakeholders to discuss how to engage themselves meaningfully in the implementation of the new education reforms.
CONCLUSION
Mr, Chairman, Presbytery,
God has a Master Plan of Salvation and for building His Church. As a People of God, ours is to make a painstaking search to discover this Divine Plan and meticulously translate it into strategies of our time. Leadership in the Church today has changed and good leadership takes this change seriously.
By the grace of God and through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, this is what we will do�providing enlightened and Spirit-filled leadership which upholds the centrality of God�s Word with a remarkable accent on Evangelism and Spiritual Awakening.
Through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit we will foster holistic development and management of our Churches� human and material resources�bringing excellence into Church management. We will be vigilant and see to it that sanity is brought into the financial management of Presbytery�beginning from the Presbytery Office through the Districts to the local congregations.
In all these I count on your constant prayers and the unflinching support of each and every one of you.
And these we would do, as we all move together on to Spiritual maturity, God being our Helper.
Thank you and God Bless You
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