Accra, Dec. 7, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor on Sunday asked the Church to eschew divisiveness, inordinate materialism and rancour to enable it realize its full potential of winning souls and improving the living conditions of the people.

He said the Church could be guided in the performance of these daunting tasks by following the teachings of Christ, which extol virtues of humility, peaceful co-existence and selflessness.

The President said this in an address read on his behalf at a special thanksgiving ceremony in Accra to mark the official change of name from Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Ghana to Global Evangelical Church under the theme: "Behold I am doing a new thing."

Professor Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi, the Minister of Ports, Harbours and Railways read the message.

President Kufuor said government would continue to create an enabling environment to ensure the unfettered right of people to exercise their religious freedom as enshrined in the 1992 Constitution as well as carry out its mandate to improve the socio-economic conditions of Ghanaians.

He cited the Health Insurance Scheme, the Development of Infrastructure, initiatives in Information Technology, Cassava Production as examples of government's efforts to make the country a better place for all.

President Kufuor said government would, therefore, co-operate with all religious bodies to pursue sound policies to attain common developmental goals.

He lauded the Global Evangelical Church's pace-setting work in the specialized area of reconstructive and plastic surgery at its hospital in Ashanti and other socio-economic ventures been undertaken to improve the welfare of Ghanaians.

While commending the Church for its intensive education of the youth on the HIV/AIDS menace, the President expressed the hope that the religious body would extend such effort to offer comfort and fellowship to people suffering from the disease.

The Right Reverend Commodore Ferdinand Gbewonyo, the Moderator of the Global Evangelical Church, said the church's distinctive identity was an opportunity to renew the image of the church.

He said the Church would use its resources for social work, especially in pioneering the provision of services for educational and health needs.

The Global Evangelical Church emerged from the E.P. Church in 1991 and assumed the new name in line with its corporate strategic plan.

It currently has a membership of about 100,000 spread throughout Ghana and in congregations in neighbouring African countries and England.

A plaque of the new name and logo were unveiled at the ceremony.