Church obeys court and takes a new name

Accra, Aug. 14, GNA - The Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Ghana, a breakaway church of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana on Thursday announced its new name as the "Global Evangelical Church" in response to a High Court ruling last year, which restrained it not to use its former name.

The Right Reverend Commander Ferdinand Hope Gbewonyo, Moderator of the Church, who announced the change of name at the Church's 62nd annual synod meeting in Accra said: "to let peace prevail, we went through the necessary steps provided by our constitution to have a new name selected.

"On May 3rd 2003 an extra-ordinary synod of the church met and painstakingly, selected a name in readiness to reconcile with our sisters, the E. P. Church, Ghana", he said.

Rev Gbewonyo was addressing over 600 synod delegates comprising pastors, catechists and elders of the church from all over the country, the West Africa Sub-Region and Europe at a four-day meeting on the theme: "Lets Us Work Together In Union With Christ".

Delegates at the meeting would review the past year's activities; take decisions on the way forward and elect new national executives for a four-year term.

The Moderator expressed the hope that with the change of name, the reconciliation process between the church and her sister-church from which it broke off would be expedited to achieve brotherliness and oneness in the body of Christ to move the work of God forward.

He said since no nation or organization could achieve its goals and visions in disunity, the Global Evangelical Church would continue to pursue peace and move on in unity with one another to move both the church and Ghana forward.

Rev Gbewonyo commended the government for its commitment towards the execution of the Keta Sea Defence Project and its various policies to provide democratic governance but urged government to deepen democracy in the country.

He also appealed to the government to explore the salt industry in the Keta Lagoon and to make agriculture its top priority since that was the hub of the country.

He said the church would continue to pray for the country and collaborate with all who sought the progress of the nation. Rev Gbewonyo said the church had outlined strategic programmes such as education, health and income generation activities to meet the temporal needs of members alongside evangelisation.

He announced that the church's medical centre at Ejisu Krapa in the Ashanti Region would be relocated to Apromase, near Ejisu and be upgraded to a hospital with the support of the American Leprosy Missions.

The Reverend Dr Samuel Asore, President, Centre for Pastoral Excellence and Conflict Resolution, noted that the Church held the key to the success of the nation so Christians should learn to live together, participate in national affairs and help bring the needed change.

He said: "We can help build a better nation by doing what is right in our local churches. Forgiving each other, being faithful in our dealings towards one another, loving one another, living disciplined lives and supporting the efforts of government."

Dr Ken Attafuah, Executive Secretary of the National Reconciliation Commission (NRC) in a fraternal message commended the church for its respect of law and for having changed its name.

He urged them to continue to pursue peace with it mother-church and also educate its members on the need for reconciliation to heal the wounds of the nation just as the government was doing.

Dr Attafuah said a lot of people had been "wounded over the years and it was through this process of reconciliation that they would be consoled and be able to contribute their quota to help develop the country".

In a related development, the E.P Church, Ghana has filed a writ in an Accra High Court seeking leave to cite the leaders of the breakaway church for contempt. The case would be heard on August 21.