Opinions of Sunday, 15 March 2015

Columnist: Presby & NDC member

Is PCG a political party?

- Asks a Concerned Church Member

The Presbyterian Church of Ghana I know was the first established Christian church in Ghana.

We adhere to a very high view of the scripture not politics. We believe in the authority of scripture, justification by Grace through Faith, Priesthood of All Believers, and the Sovereignty of God. We distinguish ourselves as a church and once the most respected church in Ghana.

Out of this church emerged many successful and respected Moderators and men of God, like Very Rev. Sintim Missah, Very Rev. Yaw Frimpong Manso, among others.
I find it ironic to see Rt. Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Martey on radio, on TV, everywhere in Ghana preaching the gospel according to NPP instead of preaching Gods word.
Since Rev. Martey ascended the throne as the Moderator, our beloved Presbyterian church has been sinking.
Instead of Prof. Martey seeing to it, and using his leadership to unite the breakaway Presbyterian church of Ghana pastors who are flocking to the USA to form Presbyterian Church of Ghana but still don’t want to affiliate themselves with PCG but rather with Presbyterian Church of USA of which Prof Martey claims we PCG overseas Mission is breaking ties with.
Me being a member of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana overseas mission (USA) wish our Leader, Moderator Prof Martey could use his wisdom and efforts to bring back all the Presbyterian Church of Ghana Churches in USA who affiliate themselves with the PCUSA to the fold of PCG as one umbrella to worship in our own tradition to serve one God and help our nation Ghana. A nation Prof Martey seems to love so much.
Can someone ask Prof Martey why Rev. Frimpong Manso who was once a Moderator in Ghana now pastoring as Presbyterian Church of USA instead of PCG in USA? I think he has a big mouth to say anything he wants? Wasn’t he (Rev. Martey) who announced our breakaway ties with PCUSA and said we are going to establishment centers for ex-gay therapy? He once said the Presbyterian Church of Ghana is planning to establish centers throughout the country to provide counseling and therapy for its homosexual members.
Where are the therapy centers? Please Prof. Martey show me only one center.
Prof. Martey claims he can solve Ghana’s dumsor problem in three months but cannot solve the problems in his administration?
No wonder there was controversies in his election. A candidate for the position of a Moderator per the church’s regulations must be of sound mind, with unsoiled reputation.
In the process of Prof Martey’s election as the Moderator, some of the challengers alleged attempts by some elements within the national council of PCG to sidestep the church’s constitution and impose the then head of the Ga Presbytery, Professor Rev. Emmanuel Mamah Martey, as the moderator.
A petition was signed by one C.K. Ansah, a staunch member of the church said: “We are aware of the attempts by some individuals to impose a man whose character and conduct run contrary to the provisions of the first schedule of the church’s constitution.…Rev. Prof. Martey’s tenure of office as chairperson of Ga Presbytery has unfortunately exposed him as an unsuitable candidate to be considered for the next Moderator of the General Assembly”. That was one of the people who worked closely with Prof. Martey; and no wonder he is now the campaign Manager for NPP.
No one is saying Prof Martey should be quiet on issues of national interest, but being a Presbyterian and also our leader, I wish he will be objective, fair, and truthful, to himself, to Ghanaians and to God. He never sees anything good in NDC, but of NPP.
Yes, I am a Presbyterian and yes I am an NDC member, same as Prof. Martey being a Presbyterian and also an NPP member.
Concerned Member of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana in the United States.