Kumasi, Dec. 6, GNA - The 2009 Annual Conference of Ministers of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG) opened in Kumasi on Tuesday with a call on churches to be a beacon of hope and life upon which the unity of Ghanaians could be built. The Right Reverend Dr Yaw Frimpong-Manso, Moderator of the General Assembly of PCG said the church could not run away from its responsibility of bringing the people together. Rt. Rev. Frimpong-Manso said the reformed tradition of the church must impact positively on the community and society and bring about changes in the lives of the people. He said Ghanaians must give thanks unto the Lord for ensuring peace in the nation, adding that the peace the country was enjoying should not be taken for granted.
The church should continuously pray to God to foster unity among the people and to grant stability, ethnic co-existence and the heart to tolerate each other in the country, the Moderator added. Rt. Rev. Frimpong-Manso said God was still on the side of Ghanaians and the reformed polity of the church should inform the nation that God was still with them and was ready to respond to any situation when the people called on Him.
He called on members of the church to remain united behind their leaders in important spiritual matters that would enhance the welfare of the church. Reverend Benjamin Ntreh, National Chairman of the PCG Ministers, appealed to the ministers to be interested in their old age and support initiatives that sought to bring better pension schemes. He said the executive committee was negotiating with Ecobank to initiate a comfortable pension scheme for retiring ministers of the church.
Professor Kwasi Kwafo Adarkwa, Vice Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology appealed to the ministers to upgrade their skills and knowledge in information and communication technology to improve on their services to their members. Professor Sraku Lartey, Rector of the Presbyterian University College (PUC) appealed to the church to desist from relishing in its past glories and device ways to halt the attrition of its members and dwindling financial situation.