[ 2015-01-26 ]

Christians in Africa must not deny their cultural identity - Bishop
The Kumasi Diocese of Methodist Church Ghana (MCG)
has affirmed its resolve to rekindle the
long-standing relationship between the church and
traditional rulers to advance Methodism.

The Right Reverend Professor Osei Safo-Kantanka,
Diocesan Bishop, said Christianity was
culture-conscious and, as such, recognised the
critical role of chieftaincy in the spread of the
gospel and human development in general.

“The palace is important in the African setting
because it is the wheel around which our cultural
identity and heritage revolve. For that matter,
any attempt to sustain the growth of Christianity
which, in itself, is culture-specific, without the
involvement of chiefs and queens would not achieve
the desired results,” he said.

Addressing a cultural evangelism programme in
Kumasi, Right Rev. Prof. Safo-Kantanka said most
Christians in Africa had identity crisis within
the context of Biblical doctrines and principles.

This, he said, made it difficult for some
ministers of the gospel to come to terms with some
aspects of African traditional beliefs and
practices, a situation which had triggered
religious conflicts in some communities over the
years.

“Church leaders must make conscious efforts to
sensitising members to appreciating who they are
and where they come from. Otherwise, Christianity
will be seen as an imposition from the western
world or religious imperialism,” the Bishop
said.

The programme, dubbed; “The Church’s Mission
to the Palace” was put together by the MCG
leadership to strengthen its relationship with
chiefs and queens who are members of the church.

The spread of Methodism in the Kumasi Metropolis
and its environs, particularly in the early part
of the 1900s, was said to have been encouraged by
the Manhyia Palace, with the latter providing
large tracts of lands to the missionaries to
facilitate educational and church work.

It had since established a strong presence in the
Ashanti Region and through its reputable
educational institutions a number of traditional
rulers had attained formal education and
leadership training to benefit the people.

The MCG, laying strong emphasis on the holistic
development of the human beings, has one of the
largest societies of Christian chiefs and queens
in the West African sub-region.

Rt. Rev. Prof. Safo-Kantanka said it was
imperative that religious adherents found a common
ground to understand each other to foster
inter-tribal harmony.

Agyewodin Adu Gyamfi Ampem, Paramount Chief of
Acherensua, and President of the Brong-Ahafo
Regional House of Chiefs, stressed the need for
the clergy to liaise effectively with traditional
rulers to promote the welfare of the people.

Source - GNA

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