Methodist Church Ghana rejects gay marriage

The Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church Ghana, the Most Reverend Titus K. Awotwi Pratt, has disclosed the church’s positions on the ‘delicate’ issue of same sex marriage, stating categorically and unequivocally that the Methodist Church Ghana will not in its lifetime accept the practice of same sex marriage in any of its churches in the country.

The church; from the gatekeeper, ordinary member and to the highest position holder, he insisted, is resolve to maintain sanity and sanctity of the gospel of God as well as the principles and doctoring of the Methodist Church.

The Presiding Bishop was speaking at Goaso, capital of the Asunafo North Municipality in the Brong Ahafo Region during a sermon to inaugurate the new Goaso Diocese of the church, its maiden Bishop for the new Diocese-Bishop Oswald S.K. Boakye as well as the new Diocesan Lay Chairperson, Elizabeth Owusu last Sunday.

Bishop Awotwi Pratt stressed: “’gayism’ and Lesbianism are not our culture and it shall never be the culture of Ghanaians…it’s evil, ungodly and abomination that caused God to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah and accepting it is as asking God to unleash terror on us.”

To Bishop Awotwi Pratt, legalizing same sex marriage is never a change, neither modernity nor human rights, rather it is conspiracy being staged by the world as a prelude to deliberately change the logical existence of society as well as the intentions of God for humanity.

Giving the sermon on the theme “Spiritual gift to nurture the church”, the Head of the Methodist Church Ghana emphasized that the Ghana chapter of the church shall never be cowed into submission by both internal and external elements to be part of any grand scheme to invite the wrath of God.

He asserted: “We are not worthy to change the order and intentions of God… and the Methodist church Ghana will not be part of this blasphemous and grievous act against God and humanity; no amount of external, internal, political or unforeseen moves can make the church to succumb to any pressure to cowardly endorse same sex marriage.”

According to the Presiding Bishop, the church shall defy all seen and unseen pressures and remain resolute in instilling discipline and the doctoring of God as well as the church to Ghanaians.

“If you ask me, our past leaders and Bishops or the church of our position on this demon called same sex marriage; we [Methodist Ghana] will tell you never would we as a church condone this dastardly act. No gay and lesbianism marriage in this church, period”, Awotwi Pratt stressed.

He challenged the new Bishop for the Goaso Diocese, Rt. Rev. Oswald S.K Boakye, to preach God’s word to the people without fear or favour, and urged him to let the teachings of the gospel be authentic and pure at all time.

“Your duty is first to God; preach the unadulterated word to the people. You are again to serve the church with all humility and sincerity and not to be parochial and selective in your dealings. We will pray for you in all your endeavours as you strive to seek the face of God”; the Bishop added.

Bishop Awotwi Pratt again encouraged church members to apply themselves to the principles and tenets of the church in pursuit of winning souls for Christ’s work, charging the Goaso Traditional Council and other relevant bodies in the municipality to offer all needed support to make the new diocese stand and be fruitful.

Expressing his delight, the new Goaso Bishop, Oswald S.K Boakye pledged his support to the growth of the diocese, assuring that he will be diligent, firm and fair in his dealings in ensuring that the diocese grows to the glory of God.