"Mushroom churches" must join recognised religious organisations- Doku

Accra, March 17, GNA - Apostle Samuel Doku, Vice President of Ghana Conference of Religions for Peace (GCRP) has called on the leadership of "mushroom churches" to align their bodies with recognised religious organisations.

He said this would ensure that the leadership of mushroom churches, who were being publicised in the media recently for all forms of misconduct, would be counselled and compelled to behave well for the sanctity of Christendom.

Apostle Doku made the call at the opening session of a two-day Capac= ity Building Workshop on Planning, Budgeting and Communication organised by G= CRP for its Executive Council in Accra on Tuesday. The GCRP is an umbrella body of faith based bodies in the country, including the Christian Council, the Catholic Bishops Conference, and the=

Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission, and seeks to promote religious harmony and peac= e in the country.

The workshop aimed at enhancing the ability of participants to effectively plan, budget and communicate in their various organisations f= or maximum impact and results.

Topics to be treated would include Financial Management, Savings and=

Investments Management, Tax Planning Strategies, Asset Protection and Integrated Communication by experts from the University of Ghana, Legon, to enhance their knowledge as well as expose them to new concepts to ensure efficiency in their performance.

Apostle Doku said churches should learn from the Islamic Religion wh= ich had all its associations under one umbrella in the country and become affiliated to the GCRP to ensure that erring leaders were properly sanctioned.

He said there were many churches including newly formed ones in the country which did not belong to any recognised religious organisation and=

operate without recourse to accepted norms and with no supervision. "Even though there is freedom of religion and association, it does n= ot mean we should stand up and do things just anyhow, we need to come togeth= er to glorify God so He can shower more blessings on us," Apostle Doku said. Apostle Doku stressed the need for periodic capacity building semina= rs for religious leaders to improve their delivery to ensure that Christendo= m was not brought into disrepute.

He said religious leaders must preach the word of God to win souls rather than engage in "dubious practices" and unnecessary competition as a means of winning souls for Christendom.

Apostle Doku said the institution of the National Prayer Week, clima= xed with the thanksgiving service, was appropriate because "we need to recogn= ise the good things that God has been doing for us as individuals and for our=

nation and ask Him for more blessings".

He urged Ghanaians to renew their faith in God and ask Him to take charge of the nation's affairs.

Alhaji Muhammad Kpakpo Addo, Acting Executive Secretary and Programm= e Coordinator of GCRP, said GCRP had planned to support government's effort= s at resolving the Bawku conflict. Alhaji Addo said consequently, the GCRP was holding discussions with=

the Ministry of the Interior and the National Peace Council as to how it could assist the affected people, especially the youth in the area. He said GCRP was ready to provide material and emotional support for=

victims of the conflict.