Methodist Church disowns Asante Antwi

Most. Rev. Prof. Emmanuel K. Asante

The Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church of Ghana, the Most. Rev. Prof. Emmanuel K. Asante, has stated categorically that the Methodist Church was non-partisan, and that it was wrong for anybody to use the name of the church to meddle in politics.

Speaking at the official opening of the 6th Biennial and 44th Annual Conference of the Methodist Church at the Wesley Cathedral in Cape Coast, on Thursday, Most. Rev. Asante said the church consisted of members of all political parties in Ghana, such as the National Democratic Congress (NDC), New Patriotic Party (NPP), Convention People's Party (CPP) and People's National Convention among others, therefore, it was wrong for anybody to draw the church's name into politics.

'I have my political lineage, but I only express it during voting,' he said, attracting large applause from the congregation.

Most Rev. Asante explained that the Methodist Church seeks to unite society, and not disintegrate it, therefore, any action contrary to that was not acceptable.

His comments come barely a week after a former Methodist Presiding Bishop, Rev. Asante-Antwi, openly supported Nana Akufo Addo, and made comments that suggested he was an NPP stalwart.

In a sermon on 'Connexionality and Oneness in Christ,' Most Rev. Asante said Christians must eschew materialism and show love and brotherliness to each other, and that the Christian faith was based on love and godliness.

He said the church should not allow scandals to gag them from proclaiming the Word of God, and that everything must be done to reach out to the people, because spiritual things were better than worldly affections.

He also urged the 15 cathedrals in the church to adopt some churches in deprived communities and develop them, because under-development of the local churches affected the whole church.

On environmental degradation and its impact, the Minister of the Gospel said people were destroying what God created for the comfort of man, and that there was no need for any scientist to tell man that God's creation was being destroyed.

'Look at what is happening in Pakistan, in terms of floods, and other countries. These bear ample testimony to the destruction of the environment, and its negative impact on humanity,' he added.

The Central Regional Minister, Mrs. Ama Benyiwa Doe, praised the church for the positive contribution it was making in national development, adding that apart from training priests to propagate the word of God to improve upon the moral and spiritual lives of the people, the church also engages in social activities, including the provision of schools, hospitals and other social services.

She used the occasion to urge church leaders to encourage their congregation and community members to cooperate with the Population and Housing Census field officers, by giving them accurate information.

The Wesley Methodist Cathedral, the premier Methodist Church in Ghana, was filled to capacity, while giant screens were mounted, to allow others have a feel of the Synod.