Most Revered Dr Samuel Asante Antwi has called on members of the clergy and the laity to strengthen ties for continuous growth and development of the Methodist Church.

He said the roles of the clergy and the laity in advancing and transmitting the principles and practices of the ministry of the Methodist Church of Ghana would impact on the lives of the people, which was crucial for development.

Reverend Antwi, Past Presiding Bishop of the Church who made the call during the Stephens-Odunton-Armar Memorial lecture on Tuesday, said bridging the gap between the clergy and the laity was central to fostering unity.

The lecture was on the theme: “Uniting the Clergy and Laity in service to church and state: some challenges to leadership in modern Ghana.”

Rev. Dr Antwi said both the clergy and laity had a responsibility of being prudent, discipline, living trustworthy lives and practicing it properly to change lives.

He appealed to members of the church to use the Methodist Conference as a platform to speak and stand for the truth to unite people of diverse background.

He urged members to study the 1992 constitution, the Bible, the Church’s constitution and its standing orders, to be properly informed of the principles and doctrines enshrined in them.

He said any reformation in tenure of office of laity should gear towards uniting the church and help it grow.

The Stephens-Odunton-Armar Memorial lecture is born out of the desire of the young people of the Accra Wesley Society of the Methodist Church Ghana, to learn from the noble examples of the forebears.