Tarkwa (w/r) May 4, GNA - The Very Reverend John A. Y. Adubah, Superintendent Minister of the Gaddiel Acquaah Methodist Church, has been elected as the new Bishop of the Tarkwa Diocese of the Church, for a six-year term of office.

His election would, however, have to be confirmed by the Methodist Conference, which would be held in August in Sekondi. Rev. Adubah polled 66 votes, out of the 99 votes cast to meet the mandatory requirement of 50 per cent plus one vote as demanded by the Constitution of the Church.

The voting climaxed the five-day 20th Synod of the church, which ended at Tarkwa at the weekend.

Rev. Adubah, who also served as the Synod Secretary of the Diocese, when confirmed, would succeed the Right Rev. Sampson Yamoah, whose tenure expires in September 2004. The Very Rev. Richard Bosomtwi-Ayensu, Ashanti and Brong Ahafo Regional Chaplain of the Ghana Police Service, polled 19 votes while the incumbent Administrative Bishop the Rt. Rev. Albert Ofoe Wright had 14 votes.

In a related development, Mrs Mabel Ofori, a member from the Sefwi Wiawso Circuit of the church was elected the new Diocesan Lay Chairperson for a three-year tenure of office.

She polled 58 votes, while Mr Kumi Arthur, a Contestant, had 40 votes. Mrs Doris G. Oduro, a third Contestant, withdrew at the last minute. Mrs Ofori would take over from Mr Samuel Y. Safo, the current Diocesan Lay Chairman in October.

The elections were supervised by the Rt. Rev. Emmanuel G. L. Twum-Baah, Bishop of the Koforidua Diocese, and Mr Ato Essuman, National Lay President, on behalf of the General Purposes Council (GPC) of the Methodist Conference.

Rev. Twum-Baah and Mr. Essuman advised members to respect and honour both the clergy and lay leaders and support each other in their endeavours.

They said without each other, the Church's vision and mission in the country could not be realised.

Rev. Adubah, the Bishop-Elect promised to work hard to uplift the name and image of the Diocese and thanked members of the Synod for electing him.

Synod is the second highest decision making body within the Methodist Church set-up.

The Synod was on the theme: "Building the Church in Love, Truth and Faith'.