Accra, Oct. 26, GNA - The Most Reverend Robert Aboagye-Mensah was on Sunday inducted as the Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church, Ghana at the Wesley Cathedral, Asafoiatse Netty Road, Accra. The Prelate, His Eminence Dr Sunday Mbang, Chairperson, World Methodist Council and Presiding Bishop of Methodist Church of Nigeria, performed the induction ceremony.

Seven Reverend Ministers including The Right Reverend Ebenezer H. Brew Riverson, The Right Reverend Ebenezer K. Dadson and The Right Reverend Colonel William Jonfia (rtd) robed the new Presiding Bishop and prayed for him.

The Administrative Bishop, The Right Reverend Albert Ofoe Wright presented the Connexional Bible and the Pastoral Staff to Most Rev Aboagye-Mensah. The Bible is the symbol of his authority while the staff, is to remind him to serve the flock of Jesus Christ. Preaching the sermon, The Most Reverend Professor Emeritus Kwesi A. Dickson, President, All Africa Conference of Churches, called on leaders not to lord their positions over their people but to render service to them in humility.

Reiterating the teaching of Jesus Christ on the question of who was the greatest among the disciples, Most Rev. Dickson advised the Church Leadership not to feel more important than the message of salvation.

He urged the Church to respond positively to all situations in the society.

President John Agyekum Kufuor stressed the need for the State and the Church to cooperate and said Ghanaians would soon begin to experience some relaxation in the harsh economic situation they found themselves in at the present.

Bishop Dr Mvume Dandala, General Secretary, All Africa Conference of Churches, urged the church leadership to think globally and endeavour to network with their counterparts in all parts of the African continent.

He expressed his displeasure in the way some churches in Africa had become so parochial to the extent that they had rather fuelled division and brought about untold hardships on the people. Bishop Dandala urged churches to accept that HIV/AIDS was real and to join in the fight against it.

The church hall was filled to capacity with a great number of the congregation having to stay outside.

Renditions of Methodist hymns in highlife tune set the congregation dancing.

Representatives from other churches and the Muslim community and Diplomatic Corps attended the ceremony. 26 Oct. 03