Priest calls for unity within Church and State

Akwatia, July 12, GNA - The Chairman of the Akyem Abuakwa Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, the Reverend K.K. Gyekye has observed that no society can develop and prosper if there is no unity and therefore decried the political disunity in the country which had been extended to the church

Delivering the keynote address at the 21st delegates conference of the Akyem Abuakwa Presbytery Men's Fellowship at Akwatia, Rev. Gyekye said sadly enough the Church seemed fragmented along denominational and ethnic lines.

He said some people have even allowed political reasons to determine how they live their religious lives, preach or belief to the extent that some churches have even been tagged politically by their fellow Christians who worship elsewhere.

The theme for the conference was: "that all may be one: witnessing for Christ", Rev. Gyekye noted that, some Christian denominations would have nothing to do with others because their names and doctrines differ. He said some priests would not speak on certain platforms for the simple reason that their preaching were at variance with others. "This has made the church to loose its influence on national issues and so politicians did not take us serious, they will only come to us when they need our prayers to win elections," he said.

Rev Gyekye said one factor that had disturbed unity in the Presbyterian Church of Ghana was the canker of tribalism, to the extent that some presbyteries became no go areas to people who did not come from those areas when it came to the election of Chairmen.

He explained that when tribalism comes into play during elections, the ability to get the job done is always sacrificed on the alter of tribalism.

Rev. Gyekye stressed that God did not create any super tribes and every tribe was important in the eyes of God and should be treated as such.

He added that there should be no room for the making of derogatory remarks about one tribe or the other in the church.