MEN OF GOD MUST LIVE BY EXAMPLE (PAGE 29, MAY 6, 2010)

THE Western Regional Minister, Mr Paul Evans Aidoo, has described as sad the many cases pending against men of God in the law courts.
He said there was the need for concerted effort by all, particularly church leadership in the country to help deal with this disturbing trend.
He said the constitutional guarantee of freedom of worship for all citizens had resulted in some people being taken for granted by charlatans.
“They have actually gone haywire without control from anybody,” he added.
This was contained in an address read on his behalf by his deputy, Ms Betty Busumtwi-Sam, at the 49th annual synod of the Sekondi Diocese of the Methodist Church in Sekondi.
The theme for the synod was “Oh Holy spirit, establish us in the Lord Jesus for a humble review of our commitment”.
Mr Aidoo said the church had become a money making organisation filled with all kinds of quacks and charlatans, who shamelessly paraded themselves as men of God.
“People who call themselves men of God with all kinds of titles and ranks have invaded the house of God and committing all manner of unthinkable sins right under the Cross of Christ,” he added.
These radio and television evangelists, he said, were all over the place spewing venom and sometimes deceptive messages to their followers, who blindly followed them and go to the extent of defending their nefarious activities.
Mr Aidoo said in the past, churches were the last place one would expect to hear of such crimes as incest, fraud and violence being committed by bishops, reverend fathers, pastors and other church leaders, adding that but now, the tables had turned.
“In view of all the overwhelming clout that some of these modern day churches are having in society, those of you who have been in existence for all these years have survived and are growing from strength to strength,” he said.
He said the Methodist Church had impressive credentials, as well as social responsibility initiatives such as education and health.
He added that products of schools under the church management had occupied high levels of national leadership for a very long time and continued to do so.
The Bishop of the Sekondi Diocese of the Methodist Church, the Rt Revd. John Harvey-Ewusi, said the proposal for the establishment of the Faculty of Administration of the Methodist University in the twin city of Sekondi/Takoradi had not been abandoned but it had been delayed due to financial constraints.
He, therefore, urged church members who had not yet contributed to the Methodist Development Fund, part of which goes to support the finances of the university, to see the need to pay and contribute towards this worthy project.