Clergyman calls for recognition before churches are established

Kumasi, June 13, GNA-A clergyman has suggested to the government to evolve a policy that will require pastors who are desirous to establish their own churches to secure approval and recognition from the Ministry of Interior before doing so.

The Reverend Joseph K. Gyimah, founder of the True light of Christ Church who made the suggestion, said such a policy if evolved, should involve the screening of pastors willing to establish such churches to ascertain the genuiness of their backgrounds before granting them the recognition for such a mission.

Rev Gyimah made the suggestion at a forum of the men's fellowship of the Church at Abrepo, a suburb of Kumasi on Saturday. He was of the conviction that such a measure would be in the right direction as it will help "check and weed out self-seeking pastors whose only motive for entering the pastoral ministry is to make economic gains".

Rev Gyimah noted that introduction of such a policy was long-over due, saying its absence had paved way for the pastoral ministry to be taken for granted, and used by "some self-styled pastors to deceive and instil indiscipline in some people".

"It will be wrong for anyone to perceive such a measure, if introduced, as an infringement on the rights of people to either assemble or worship", he stressed.

Rev Gyimah called on all genuine pastors to quickly take up the challenge of exposing "the bad nuts amongst them rather than waiting for some one else to do so for them". He cautioned that they will be failing in their religious and moral duty and be held accountable to their creator, should they turn a blind eye to the deeds by some of their colleagues that bring dishonour and disgrace "to bear on the lord's ministry".

Rev Gyimah also entreated people to be fully mindful of their salvation and therefore embrace messages emanating from only genuine pastors and not those whose focus is mainly on helping them amass earthly and material things. 13 June 04