The National Clergy Association of Ghana (NACAG) was launched in Accra to serve as a professional body to bring sanity and maintain dignity to the Clergy.

The Association, which is opened to all Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors, and Teachers of the word of God is aimed at instilling professionalism in the work of the ministers of God through promotion of good standards and pastoral service.

It also acts as an advocate for ministers of God in Ghana and set up arbitration centres for conflict resolution within the Church, among others.

Bishop Charles Abban, the Founder of the NACAG, called on the Church to work closely with the state and other religious organisations to prevent the current moral decadence that engulfed the country to promote justice, peace and harmony.

He said the recent moral decadence of some church leaders,the frowning pastoral ethics, wrong application and misinterpretation of scriptures tarnished the image of the entire clergy.

Bishop Abban said NACAG would regularise misconducts and bring the dignity and sanity to the call of God.

“Together with the existing organisations, we will stand and fight for this good cause,” he added.

He paid tribute to the early missionaries and pioneering Priests and religious leaders, who gave their lives to the service of the people and the nation, saying, “they had been true to their mission”.

“Over the years, the Catholic Church, the Anglican Church, the Wesleyans, the Basil mission. The Charismatic and Pentecostal missions and churches of recent times have contributed much to the growth of Ghana…not only in education and healthcare, but also to the moral and social development of our country.”

“Indeed, the Church has always stood out as a voice for the poor, the helpless and marginalised in society, for these are the people closer to the heart of God.”

Bishop Abban said: “Today, these Churches continue their mission to recognise the poor in our midst, who are vulnerable to the threat of secularisation, moral relativism, individualism, materialism and the negative impact of the internet and social media.”

He noted that the youth and the families, which form the basic building blocks of society, were the most at risks as a result of those negative impacts.

He said as stewards of creation, “we need also to care for the environment, so that generations to come can continue to enjoy the fruits of the earth”.

The Reverend Anthony Langston, a Non-Inter-denominational Pastor from the United States of America has called on Church Leaders to let their attitudes and preaching lead their members to glorify God in Heaven.

He said the Church needed to be the best environment to advertise the goodness of God and tasked the Church to continue to pray and worship God as never before.

He also urged Christian leaders to teach their followers how to read the Bible.

“Let your light be shining, so that when your followers see your attitude and your behaviour, they will give GLORY TO God in heaven,” he said.

Rev Langston expressed the hope that NACAG would serve as an equipping tool for local pastors to give them the necessary empowerment and professional development.

Rev. Pastor John Ntim Fordjour, Member of Parliament for Assin South Constituency urged the Church leaders to raise their members, especially the youth to desire to influence the legislation.

He said misconducts of some of their colleague pastors had dented the profession and commended the founders for their vision, which he said, would restore honour to the most revered profession.

“We do not need to wait for Government to set standards to admonish us. It’s in right direction that we set our own standards which will be the light for others to follow,” he added.

Rev Sampson Kweku Boafo, Chairman of Minerals Commission and a former Ashanti Regional Minister, advised junior pastors not to clamor for promotions, saying, promotions come from God”.

He also advised NACAG members to be each other’s’ keepers. Apostle General Dr Daniel Markins, Presiding Bishop of Church of Christ (Spiritual Movement) and the founding member of NACAG, said the foundation of Christianity was already built by Jesus Christ himself and cautioned all those building on it to be careful.

He said Charlatans had taken over the pulpit – doing all sort of things under the cover of freedom of worship and the entire country, including; ordained men of God remained quiet, adding that “if the righteous remained quiet, tyrants continue to rule”.

“All manner of doctrines have found their way into the Church even to the extent that some of the men of God openly declaring that Jesus Christ would no longer come. The entire Christian groups were silent over that declaration,” he added.

He, therefore, urged men of God to continuously look for the heartbeat of Jesus Christ, which looked for more souls.