By Michael Kofi Kenetey
The Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church Ghana, Most Rev. Dr. Paul Kwabena Boafo, has described the issue of indiscipline in society as unfortunate. He noted that the church that serves as the custodian of discipline is concerned about the increase of indiscipline in schools, politics, and governance.
Most Rev. Dr. Kwabena Boafo was speaking during the Methodist Church Ghana 2023 Ordination Service for Ministers of the Church hosted by the Oda Diocese at the St. Luke Methodist Chapel at Akim Oda in the Birim Central Municipality of the Eastern Region.
The event saw the ordination of 67 ministers, comprising sixty-one males and six females, from across the country who have gone through six years of ministerial formation and training. The six years include three years of theory in school and three years of practical on the field, where they were taken through the practical aspects of the ministry of God, which are counselling, preaching, administering the sacrament of Holy Communion, and baptism.
The service included the presentation and examination of candidates, taking of vows by the ordinants, robing of the ministers, signing of register, affirmation of faith, among others.
In an interview with GBC News, the Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church Ghana, Most Rev. Dr. Paul Kwabena Boafo, explained that the ordination service means that the 67 ministers of the ministry have been tested and accepted as fully-fledged ministers of God in the church.
He spoke about what is next after the ordination of the ministers.
Speaking on indiscipline in society, Most Rev. Dr. Kwabena Boafo tasked teachers of the Methodist schools in the country to continue to instill discipline in the youth. He advised parents to train up their children as God wants them to.
On corruption, he labelled it as evil and a canker that requires a united front to fight against it as early as possible.
The immediate past Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church Ghana, Most Rev. Titus Awotwi Pratt, advised the ordinants not to drag the respect that society has for ministers of God into the mud.
Most Rev. Awotwi Pratt urged the newly ordained ministers to see themselves as shepherds going out to lead their sheep. He further advised the ministers not to teach anything that is contrary to biblical teachings and to be faithful to their calling into the ministry.
