Accra, Aug. 4, GNA – The Global Evangelical Church has appealed to politicians and their agents to be mindful of their utterances and actions before and after the 2012 presidential and parliamentary elections..

Right Reverend Dr Emmanuel Gbordzoe, Moderator of the Global Evangelical Church, who made the call, urged all politicians not to create tension in the country, but rather, place national interest above personal quests and ambitions, adding that, peace was important for accelerated national development.

“Peace is very important to the development of Ghana politically, socially and economically. We must therefore maintain peace so as not to lose the gains made in the fourth republican dispensation,” he said.

The moderator was speaking at the opening session of the 2011 synod of the church being held in Accra on the theme, “Step up your efforts for Divine Intervention.”

The five-day synod will deliberate on various aspects of church growth and also elect a new moderator.

Rev Gbordzoe said the church would devote its November National Convention and December 2011 Prayer Festival to pray for peaceful elections, saying the country’s democracy must grow and become a model in Africa and beyond.

On the issue of homosexuality, Rev Gbordzoe urged the government not to yield to external and internal pressure to promote human rights that were foreign and inimical to the moral and spiritual health of the country.

He condemned attempts being made to promote homosexuality in Ghana, saying such actions would only invite the wrath of God on the country.

Rev Gbordzoe commended government efforts to clamp down on armed robbery and asked God’s guidance in the fight to improve on safety and security.

Touching on the state of the Global Evangelical Church, Rev Gbordzoe, who will be stepping down as the moderator after elections on Saturday, said the membership had grown in the past eight years to 105,481 from 89,000 while the population of pastors increased to 210 from 171.

Mr Joseph Amenowode, Volta Regional Minister, who was the guest of honour, called for effective cooperation between the church and government to speed up the socio-economic development of the country.

He urged the ministers of God to help fight the moral decadence in society while boldly searching within their ranks to remove the bad ones from their midst.

Mr Amenowode said since the church and government had a common responsibility of protecting members of society from vices such as homosexuality, it was important that the two institutions collaborated to flush out such evil characters from society.

He said the government would continue its open door policy to enhance a flourishing and vibrant state/church partnership with the common purpose of evolving appropriate policy options that addressed national concerns and rid the country of such bad behaviour.