Sekondi, May 4, GNA - The Sekondi Diocese of the Methodist Church would elect a new Bishop, Lay Chairman and other conference members at its 43rd Annual Synod, which opens on May 5.

The incumbent Bishop, the Right Reverend Kow B. Egyir and Mr James A. A. Abadoo-Brew, Lay Chairman have completed their respective six years and three years tenure of office, respectively.

Briefing the Ghana News Agency (GNA), the Very Rev. Daniel De-graft Brace, Assistant Synod Secretary, said this year's Synod would be on the theme: "Empowering the Physically Challenged - the Role of the Family, Society and the Responsibility of the Church".

He said 60 Reverend Ministers and 40 delegates were expected to attend the five-day meeting to fashion out a new agenda for the growth of the Diocese.

Rev. Brace, who is also the Superintendent Minister of the Effiakuma Circuit, said the Synod would examine the reports on probationers and Ministerial candidates and discuss the state of the work of God in the Diocese, Circuits and Societies.

He said a lay spirituality retreat and Synod Women's; Youth and Men's rallies would be held to enable non-Synod members to discuss the theme.

Rev. Brace said a cursory look showed that many physically challenged persons within the society were prevented from attending churches or other social functions, either due to the location of the buildings, the seating arrangements or the general infrastructure development.

He, therefore, called on families with physically challenged persons or relatives not to hide them, but to assist them to develop their potentials for the benefit of the Church and the society as a whole.

"We need to make the necessary arrangements, to enable the physically challenged persons to have easy access and participate fully in all activities.