Professor Stephen Adei, Professor of Economic and Leadership at the Pentecost University, has cautioned the clergy to concentrate on their ministerial work and leave all other engagements to the professionals.

Prof Adei expressed concern that most men of God had taken over the duties of professionals like medical personnel which should be the responsibility of some members of their congregation.

“That is why pastors do so much today. They attend to the sick when they are not medical professionals, attend to women in labour when they are not nurses and sometimes deliver babies when they are not midwives,” he said, adding: “Unless we change our attitudes to the real call, the churches will not attain the expected growth and expansion.

Prof Adei was speaking at the official opening of the 55th Synod and General Council meeting of the Christ Apostolic Church International (CACI) in Kumasi on the theme: “Let this mind be in you.”

Prof Adei, who is the former Rector of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration, spoke on the topic: “Church growth and Expansion.”

He noted that churches exist for four reasons which are supposed to be the mandate of their leaders.

This he said, include building and equipping the saints and evangelising to reach into the world.

He said church leaders “have to focus on their core duties, which are equipping the saints and making disciples from their congregation”.

“This will be the best way to immensely promote church growth and expansion,” he added.

Apostle Dr Stephen Kwame Ntow Amoani, Chairman of CACI, reminded the congregation of the impending elections this year and called for fervent and effectual prayer to invoke the hand of God to see the nation through Election 2012 peacefully.

“We must all discourage the use of abusive and intemperate language, kick against all forms of violence before, during and after the elections and also mount a strong crusade in our various assemblies and communities against such electoral ills.

“Enthronement to kinship is made by God and governments are instituted by our Creator. Let us therefore do what is humanly possible to ensure peace and tranquility and in our nation and allow God to choose his own leader for us,” he said.

Apostle Amoani asked leaders of the church to use their influence as leaders to convince politicians and political parties to tow the line of peace, love and understanding and also pray for the Electoral Commission in its quest to deliver its mandate professionally with the fear of God to ensure free, fair and transparent elections, for the outcome to be accepted by the stakeholders.

He said last year was relatively eventful as the church witnessed major breakthroughs in the areas of church growth and expansion, infrastructural development and a major financial leap.

In addition the Christ Apostolic University College took off in earnest and called for hard work and dedication to fuel the passion to propel the church to the dreamland.

In a speech read on his behalf, Dr Kwaku Agyemang-Mensah, Ashanti Regional Minister, asked followers of the Gospel to exhibit the mind and attitude of Christ by demonstrating love, righteousness, humility, gentility, compassion and forgiveness.

Dr Agyemang-Mensah said, the mind of most people today could be described as evil, unfruitful, sinful and wicked because the crave for wealth had taken a central stage.

Since the church controlled a larger proportion of the population and had the capacity to change the minds of the people, “ I encourage the clergy to lead the crusade of changing the wicked mindset of the people” he said.**