Methodist church to create two more Dioceses in ER

The Methodist Church, Ghana, is to create two more dioceses in the Eastern Region; the Nkawkaw diocese and the Nsawam diocese.

The creation of the new dioceses would enable the church to expand evangelism to new growing areas of the region and to win more souls for the church.

The proposed Nkawkaw diocese is expected to cover mainly the Kwahu areas of the region whilst the Nsawam diocese would cover the Akuapem speaking areas.

Right Reverend Michael A. Bossman, the Bishop of the Koforidua diocese of the church, announced this at the 34th Synod of the diocese in Koforidua on Thursday.

The Synod was organized under the theme “Witnessing to Christ; moving forward in the strength of the Lord,” and was attended by over 200 delegates from all over the Koforidua diocese of the church.

He said the proposal would be referred to a committee, which would come out with a detailed programme for the creation of the new dioceses.

Reverend Bossman called for the translation of the diocese five year strategic plans into a business plan to enable the diocese to raise the necessary funds to support the spread of the gospel.

He proposed the development of the Methodist village into a vocational and retreat centre with conference facilities and a hostel that could accommodate 1,500 people.

Rev. Bossman explained that such a centre could host the annual retreat and fellowship of the kingdom programme of the Methodist Church, Ghana, and also extend the facilities to other christian groups for their retreat and conferences.

He said under the project, a chapel, a new Bishop Manse and a bungalow for the regional manager of the Methodist Educational Unit would be constructed at the village.

He called for the revival of the Afram Plains agricultural project of the church and its expansion for commercial purpose.

He said the church had planted six acres of maize at Kukurantumi and 10 acres of maize, two acres of yam and three acres of pepper at Maame krobo in the Afram Plains.

Rev. Bossman proposed the establishment of a savings and loans scheme for the diocese, to provide financial support to members of the church.

He proposed that the church could invest in a commercial christian cemetery project, which could later be expanded into a funeral home with all the necessary facilities including a mortuary to provide quality service to members of the church and other christians who wish to use the facility to have a serene and beautiful final resting place.

Under the five-year development project, the church would embark on the renovation of all Methodist schools in the diocese to help improve the environment for teaching and learning and provide church societies without permanent chapels with pavilions.

He called on well endowed societies and circuits in the diocese to support the less endowed ones to develop.

In a speech read on behalf of the Eastern Regional Minister, Mrs Helen Adwoa Ntoso, she congratulated the church for its contribution towards the socio-economic development of the country and urged its leadership to join the government in the fight against social vices among the youth of the country.

She assured the church of the support of government in all their endeavours.