Pastors asked to take up the mantle of Christ.

Cape Coast, Jan. 11, GNA- Captain (RTD) Nkrabeah Effah-Dartey, a Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, said on Saturday that there a number of people, seeking for wealth see the theological colleges as a gateway to achieve their aim.

This perception, he said, accounted for " some horrible spectacles that we see these days coming out of some Churches, making God angry with us, and in the process denying us our rightful place as heirs of God's grace".

These were contained in an address read on his behalf at the first graduation ceremony of Gaylord Theological College, Cape Coast at the Cape Coast Methodist Wesley Hall on Saturday.

Five persons, two women and three men, passed out as pastors at the ceremony attended by more than 500 people from various churches in Cape Coast and Accra.

He charged the new pastors to take up the mantle of Christ. The Deputy Minister advised Christians to emulate Christ who carried the cross to Calvary and urged them to study in greater detail, all those experiences that Christ endured as he walked to Calvary.

He told the pastors that initially, they would go through physical difficulties but they must stop frequently, retreat, fast, meditate and push on until they made steady progress in life.

Rev. Dr. Eric Anum a lecturer at the University of Cape Coast (UCC) said graduating from a Bible school does not necessarily makes one a good pastor.

He said a good pastor should be nourished on words of faith, have more knowledge and understanding to sound doctrine.

Rev. Dr. Anum said their training should enable them to determine falsehood and should be able to differentiate truth from falsehood and articulate complex Christian teachings.

They must be able to differentiate a gift and bride and their personal attitude should lead them to influence the church and transform the society.

Rev. Dr. Anum said God is not looking for people who are hiding from him but those who are going with him.

Rev. Doku Madjitey, Principal of the College who distributed certificates to the graduates said the college would offer a diploma course in Theology as from next academic year.

Bishop Margaret Yalley, Head of Church of Living God, Cape Coast and founder of the College urged the new pastors lead decent lives.

Rev. Jonathan A. Ampadu a lecturer of Christian Bible College of Excellence, Nkawkaw, who presided said there is a high rate of indiscipline, corruption and temptation in the society and urged the graduates to help fight against those vices.