JOHN WESLEY VRS THE METHODIST CHURCH, GHANA

“I am not afraid that the people called Methodists should ever cease to exist either in Europe or America (or Ghana). But I am afraid lest they should only exist as a dead sect, having the form of religion without the power. And this undoubtedly will be the case unless they hold fast both the doctrine, spirit, and discipline with which they first set out.” – John Wesley

Our Lay Movement Anthem used to be “I will build my church… With a right goodwill, With a right good heart, I will build my church.” Then, not long ago it suddenly became “I will serve the church… With a right goodwill, With a right good heart, I will serve the church.” (Note the change from BUILD to SERVE). What really caused the change? And why the change? Well, I was not fortunate to be offered one at my society… maybe others were. Whether or not you were offered a reason for the change depended very much on the frequency of your Lay Movement Executive at Circuit Lay Movement Meetings, granted that there was an official correspondence on the change. In any case, have we really finished “building” the Methodist Church to be quickly switching to “serving” it? What does it really mean to “build” a church? What does it mean to serve it? I wish I knew, or would someone be kind enough to explain to me? One thought comes to mind, though. The desire to bring about “a kind of change during my term of office” seems to have engulfed most of our leaders and that has led to many unnecessary complications in the church. Ironically, the established structure has remained adamant to the calls of the youth for the modernization of the sometimes-overly-methodic and boring order of doing things in the church, defended incessantly with their favourite phrase “We have always done it this way”. The issue is; are we really focusing on the most important things in the church? Methodist Church Ghana, is this not what John Wesley feared? [Refer to quote above]

For a church that has pure ancestry to evangelism and prayer, and was built on the blood of missionaries who sacrificed their lives by embarking on no-turning-back Christian escapades in mosquito-infested Gold Coast, some of whom lost their lives within weeks on arrival, it is very pathetic to hear of issues concerning postings and service of some of our clergy. They would work out to be posted to “milky societies”, and if they have the chance, influence posting decision to avoid certain places. I do not begrudge them though, after all they are human and every normal human being tries to avoid pain. (So they are avoiding pain, right?). Besides, the yardstick in the church structure that will monitor and evaluate their performance at their stations is their ability to pay their ASSESSMENTS. (That's why it's called Assessment). By this system, I have witnessed many ministers, whose societies “exist as dead sects” (the words of John Wesley) but pay their “assessments”, have good standing with Superintendent Ministers and Bishops, while other hardworking ministers whose societies are unable to pay, sometimes because of church building project, refused their allowances by the circuits. It so exemplifies Ecclesiastes 10:7. Methodist Church Ghana, is this not what John Wesley feared? [Refer to quote above]

Perhaps what has kept us alive and kicking, and makes most of us still proud of our church is our past. We have a heritage; our history, our hymns, linkage with great men of old such as Charles Wesley, Thomas Birch Freeman, Gaddiel R. Acquaah etc., our class system (which has been copied by many churches and given different names), our unique identity, our many schools and health centres. Believe you me, I have heard more than necessary sermons that have, in the bid to establish the potency and relevance our church, ended up recounting the stories of the spirit with which our fathers moved. What all these failed to do was to focus on our present developments, for which we should walk shoulder high and for which posterity would recount nostalgically. Or maybe we have been proud of our past for far too long to the extent that we have been thrown into oblivion of the realities our present. Methodist Church Ghana, is this not what John Wesley feared? [Refer to quote above] 

Genuinely, I want to learn. I reckon I may be advertising my ignorance by these issues I have raised. And if I am, then that's too bad for our church, because several of our people hold such views, views emanating from experiences from their various societies. We may have to be schooled. There are several others who, having recognized that they could not impact the situation, left to found or join other ministries. Some of us love to stay, try our best to see how we may be of service and contribute to the present so that, as we behold the deeds of the people of old in awe, Methodists of the future will have something pride-worthy to talk about for our times. Please get us schooled before it's too late, whoever from the hierarchy that cares to accept this task to pursue. Because even those of us in this category, are sometimes plunged into a dilemma, shall I leave or stay? But while we await an attempt to help us appreciate the situation of the Methodist Church Ghana, take a moment to assess your society, your circuit and your diocese alongside John Wesley's quote above, and ask yourself one question; Methodist Church Ghana, is this not what John Wesley feared? 

Osuani Plato
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