Religion of Monday, 24 September 2007

Source: GNA

Clergyman asked Church leaders to avoid obsession of power

Kumasi, Sept. 24, GNA- The Most Reverend Peter Kwasi Sarpong, Metropolitan Catholic Archbishop of Kumasi, at the weekend advised Church leaders against obsession of power, money and wealth to enable them to discharge their duties properly.

He expressed regret that the crave for money, wealth and prestige by some Christian leaders in recent times had compelled them to "even make it look as though the gospel was for sale."

Most Rev. Sarpong was speaking on the topic, "Towards Peace and Unity in Ghana, The Role of Christian Leaders" at the fifth Ransford Senavoe Memorial Lectures held in Kumasi.

The lectures was instituted by authorities of the Christian Service University College in honour of the late Senavoe, who died in 1990 after 11 years of dedicated service to the College as a lecturer and later Vice-Principal.

The Archbishop said "It behoves leaders to at all times lead blameless lifestyles and also inculcate moral values into their members to enable them to be law-abiding, patriotic and development-oriented." Most Rev. Sarpong cautioned that negative attitude by Church leaders could result in division, disunity and unhealthy rivalry in the Church urged them to be disciplined to ensure the growth of Christendom. He also charged ministers of the gospel to avoid hypocrisy and fight against bribery, injustices, ethnicity and indiscipline in the society.

Most Rev. Sarpong in attribute described the late Senavoe as a "genius, hard working, God-fearing and disciplined young man whose good works contributed a lot to the development of the Christian Service University College."

Rev. Professor Emmanuel Asante of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology urged Christians to tolerate the views of other religious groups to ensure peace and unity.