“CHURCHES MUST SUPPORT THEIR MINISTERS, NOT SLANDER THEM”

...Dr. Sam Prempeh

By: Emmanuel Wiafe

A former Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Very Rev. Dr. Sam Prempeh, has expressed concern about how some congregants deny their Ministers spiritual support during challenging times, adding that the practice retards church growth.

He chastised church members whose stock in trade is to slander and malign their Ministers. He advised that Agents are servants of God, and must be accorded due respect.

“It is heart aching to hear and see some of these members making irresponsible comments about their own Ministers, instead of praying with them in difficult times,” he noted.

Very Rev. Dr. Prempeh who deputized for the Moderator of General Assembly, (Rt. Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Martey), was preaching the sermon on the theme: “Sacrificial Life” during the ordination of 13 Ministerial Probationers drawn from the Sekyere, Asante Akyem and Kwahu Presbyteries of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana at the Christ Presbyterian Congregation, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi in the Asante Presbytery.

The former Moderator asked the new Ministers to identify with and help meet the numerous challenges confronting society today.

In an address, a representative of the ordained Ministers, Rev. Nixon Tei Mensah-Yemetey expressed gratitude to God and the Church’s hierarchy for the worthy experiences they had gained from their training and probationary period.

The 13 ordained Ministers were; Revds. Kofi Antwi Akowuah, Lawrence Kwadwo Annoh, Francis Asiedu, Emmanuel Nii Narh Doku, Stephen Asuo Gyebi, Seth Owusu Koranteng, Samuel Obiri Larbi, Francis Ofori Nyarko, Vasty Ogbe, Kennedy Opoku, Samuel Effah Twumasi, Jonathan Obour-Wiredu and Nixion Tei Mensah-Yemetey.

16 Ordained at Adum Ramseyer Congregation

A week later, Very Rev. Dr. Prempeh again deputized for the Moderator, (Rt. Rev. Prof. Martey) at the ordination of 16 Ministerial Probationers at the Ramseyer Congregation, Adum-Kumasi.

The former Moderator, who preached the sermon on the theme: “Marriage: God’s Institution”, said God calls his people to work instead of sitting on the fence and complaining about every challenge that comes their way.

Very Rev. Dr. Prempeh charged the newly ordained Ministers to preach repentance because “sin has engulfed our nation, Church and families.”

The Clerk of General Assembly, Rev. Dr. Samuel Ayete-Nyampong, read out the profiles and presented the Probationers to Moderator Prempeh and the General Assembly Council members present to administer the ordination vows.

The Ministers included; Revds. Ebenezer Abrokwah, Charles Kwadwo Agyei, Stephen Akyeampong, Edmund Kwaa Amankona, Joshua Mac-Jom Asare, Samuel Asamoa Ayeh-Hanson, Kwadwo Okyere Bediako, Emmanuel Kwabena Boakye and Martin Boateng.

The rest werw; Revds. Kate Oye Addo Djan, Gladys Ennim Benson, Isaac Gyamera Konadu, Emmanuel Alexander Kyei, William Akotuah Opare, Sampson Oten Preko and Emmanuel Maclean Quist.

On their behalf, Rev. Stephen Akyeampong thanked the leadership of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana and their families and senior colleagues for sponsoring and supporting their training and mentoring.