As the “General Assembly Season” winds down we come to the meetings of the two Presbyterian Churches in Ghana. First, the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana.
The title of my post does not imply that the church is going away, rather that one of the actions of the EPCG was to reorganize their highest governing body to be the General Assembly instead of the General Synod. In an interesting move, the EPCG is also “upgrading” their presbyteries to synods, apparently leaving the church without presbyteries at this time. It is not clear if the church structure is intended to stay this way or if this paves the way for the creation of new presbyteries within the synods. It was announced that this change is being made to bring the EPCG in line with “international practice.”
The theme of the General Synod, which concluded today, was “Called to Serve” and it was attended by 133 delegates. The new moderator of the EPCG is the Rev. Francis Amenu who succeeds the Rev. Dr. Livingstone Buama who has reached the eight year limit on his service in that position. In addition the Rev. Godwin K. Osiakwa was elected the new clerk. The Rev. Amenu is a second-career minister, having been originally trained as a mining engineer. Both Rev. Amenu and Rev. Osiakwa received their theological training abroad, Rev. Amenu in Indianapolis, Indiana, in the US and Rev. Osiakwa in Cambridge in the UK.
In line with the theme of the Synod, the Rev. Buama, in his sermon marking his conclusion as Moderator, said:
challenge us to change our posture and disposition towards our vocation
and calling.
My key submission is that, if things are not
changing as they should, it is because we are not serving as we
should.
The kind of service that move things forward or effect a
change for the better in the church, the nation and the world at large
is not lip-service, but visible, tangible purposeful and sustained
service.
We are to excel in serving and not in power struggle and self-aggrandisements.
The Synod also heard from Mr. Kofi Dzamesi, the Volta Regional Minister, who urged the church, with its influence on the people of Ghana, to encourage and work for a peaceful election in December. He urged the church’s nutrality in the elections to enhance its position as a steadying influence. He also promised to work with the District Assemblies to help with financial support for the Evangelical Presbyterian Church University College.
For more coverage of this General Synod there are articles on Joy Online and Ghana News.