Kumasi, June 18, GNA - The Right Reverend Daniel Yinkah-Sarfo, Anglican Bishop of Kumasi, has called on Christians to stand up against false teachings and strange religious doctrines that kept women in bondage.

"If Jesus throughout his ministry liberated, respected and empowered women despised by society, we should not be stressing on oppressive passages in the Bible but rather focus on the liberation aspects.

The church must encourage women to become more assertive and safeguard their God-given rights and fundamental freedoms". Bishop Yinkah-Sarfo made the call when he opened a two-day leadership training workshop organised for women group leaders of the Anglican Church in Kumasi on Thursday.

It was designed to provide the Diocesan and Archdeaconry women executives the opportunity to brainstorm on measures to and equip themselves with skills for effective evangelisation work. The Anglican Bishop admonished women to venture into theology and share their experiences and spirituality with the society. They should also press for adequate legislation to give them security and protection from violent crimes and abuse. Bishop Yinkah-Sarfo counselled them to overcome their low self-esteem and assume full control of their lives to be agents of development.

He asked them to give serious attention to education since it is the key to their empowerment.

He expressed the need for the Church to offer incentive packages to support the education of promising girls. The 50 participants were drawn from the Diocesan Women's Ministry and Archdeaconries of Bekwai, Nkawie, Manhyia, Suntreso, Kumawu, Mampong and Obuasi.