METHODIST LAY MOVEMENT HOLDS CONFERENCE (PAGE 44)

STORY: Rose Hayford Darko & Anasthasia Dzovor, Tema

THOUSANDS of Methodist faithful from all over the country gathered at Tema at the weekend to celebrate the 55th Connexional Conference of the Methodist Lay Movement.
The three-day conference, which started on Friday and ended on Sunday, had the theme “The Lay Movement and the Mission of the Church — 60 years and beyond”.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the conference, the Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church, Dr Aboagye-Mensah, urged them to use the occasion to transform the church and be worth ‘the salt’ that it is.
He explained that they must consider issues in their right perspectives than to take sides based on personal, tribal and political interests.
Dr Aboagye Mensah said that the church was capable of catering for its needs and disclosed that very soon local churches could not rely on their foreign missions for assistance.
He said as laymen they must have the vision of change to build on the fortunes of the church.
Dr Aboagye-Mensah reminded Christians of the December elections and urged them to portray themselves as messengers of peace.
He asked them to lead the crusade of propagating clean campaigns and choice of decent language.
Dr Aboagye-Mensah was of the view that they as citizens of the country had their party affiliations and, therefore, through their activities they would be helping the nation to be a peaceful place to live in.
He stated that decency related to all aspects of life and not politics and democracy alone, adding that it was a way of life that must be cultivated and appealed to them to play their role well for a successful political period.
Dr Aboagye-Mensah also urged the media to be circumspect in their reportage to ensure peace.
A member of the Council of State, Mr Ato Essuman, was not happy with the extent of change in the church, noting that the original objective of repositioning the clergy after serving the church had not been achieved.
He, therefore, challenged the laymen to make it an agendum of their deliberations during the conference as they started the 60 years journey.
Mr Essuman called the laymen to change their attitude and behaviour to commensurate their positions as the frontmen of the church.
The President of the Methodist Lay Movement, Mr James Badoo-Brew, observed that there was cheating within the church, which had retarded growth and, therefore, called for unity.
Mr Badoo-Brew said that the church would see a lot of growth if preachers were themselves transformed and practised what they preached to make disciples of all nations.
The conference will also look at various reports, empower the laymen to achieve their mission for the church, consider thorny issues and come out with a consensus. It will give the laymen the opportunity to articulate their views effectively to ensure a change in the church.