By Rosemary Wayo/Elizabeth Abban
Tamale, Aug. 23, GNA – The Anglican Diocese of Tamale has begun a four-day synod to deliberate on issues of the church and plan its future growth.
The biannual event was the 11th session to discuss improvements and challenges over a period and plan for years ahead.
It was on the theme: “Building the Diocese: Looking Beyond the Present” and it began from August 22 to August 25.
Representatives of the Methodist, Presbyterian and the Christian Council of Ghana were at the opening of the synod to extend solidarity to the Diocese.
Right Reverend Dennis Debukari Tong, the Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Tamale, in his opening address, said the church must set its goals in line with God’s instructions and underscored the essence of meeting periodically to plan activities for the district.
He emphasised that the church must set targets and work towards achieving those targets, adding that the charge was applicable to individual Christians.
He said “I believe this is the way to go. Forgetting the past does not mean it is not important. We can always visit the past to learn, but not to dwell in the past.”
Right Reverend Tong said the Diocese needed fresh evaluation on its progress and proposed a strategic planning meeting in coming years, to align its mission and vision to current situations and challenges.
He said the world had become dynamic and things were constantly changing, so the church must fix itself within the world’s changing dichotomy to become relevant to ensure the growth of increasing converts into the Kingdom of God.
He said the last population census revealed that the Anglican Church was growing slower.
The Bishop therefore charged members of the church to take evangelism seriously, to fulfill the biblical instructions of winning more souls to Christ.
He charged members of the Diocese to take time and study manifestos of political parties in the country to make informed decisions in the selection of responsible leaders to govern the nation.
The Most Reverend Dr Cyril Kobina Ben-Smith, the Primate of the Church of the Province of West Africa (CPWA) and Metropolitan Archbishop of the Internal Province of Ghana (IPG), Anglican Union, had a fraternity message delivered on his behalf at the synod.
He said the theme for the synod resonated with the admonishment of Saint Paul in the Bible in the book of Philippians chapter 3:13-14.
He said, “It calls us to fix our gaze not on the past or the present but on the future, on the glorious goal of Christ”.
He said the synod was a moment for bold visions and courageous actions, urging participants to hold discussions informed by the needs of society.
He expressed belief in the power of the synod to result in renewed vision for the Tamale Diocese, which would send out the gospel through compassion, justice, and love for the marginalised.
Mr Emmanuel Alhassan, the Secretary of the Christian Council lauded the Anglican Church as founder of the Christian Council and acknowledged its role in sustaining it.
He called on the clergy and members of the Diocese to keep up efforts to promote peace in the country through the Council, adding ideas from the church were useful in fostering unity.
GNA