Sekondi, July 29, GNA- The Most Reverend Dr. Scott E. McLaughlin, Metropolitan Archbishop of the Orthodox Anglican Church in the US, asked Christians not to abandon their faith no matter the circumstance in which they might find themselves.

He said, " A good tree cannot bear bad fruit and Christians must aim at being the good fruit for the society."

Bishop McLaughlin said these at the inauguration of the Ghana branch of the orthodox Anglican Church at Sekondi on Saturday.

The Church, formerly known as SS Peter and Paul Church, was a breakaway group from the Cathedral Church of the Saint Andrew the Apostle Anglican Church in Province of West Africa.

The religious body that will now be known as the Cathedral Church of Resurrection will be under the Orthodox Anglican Church in the USA. Bishop McLaughlin said God raised Christian leaders to be his voice in society and they must not compromise their calling for worldly gains. He warned ministers, who had deviated God's calling and were cheating, deceiving and stealing from their members to satisfy their personal desires to refrain from such practices.

Rev. McLaughlin cautioned that the Church was likely to be attacked both spiritually and physically by various sections of society, and asked members to stand resolute and trust in the Lord. He asked the Church not to follow any doctrine that was not based on the Bible.

Rev. McLaughlin urged the Church to assist in eliminating obnoxious cultural practices that were affecting Ghanaians and to assist the sick, needy and neglected.

He said the Orthodox Anglican Church branch in Ghana was not established by force or coercion but through voluntary action aimed at winning more souls for the Lord.

Mr. Anthony E. Amoah, the Western Regional Minister, said the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) would not take sides in disputes instead it would apply lawful means and negotiations to resolve crisis. He said the RCC would expect all religious bodies to set good examples for their members and to assist the Council in ensuring peace and orderliness.

Papa Owusu-Ankomah, outgoing Minister of Education Science and Sports, and Member of Parliament for Sekondi, said change was inevitable and people should be ready to adopt to new situations and urged the Church to intensify its evangelism drive to win more souls for the Lord.