By Emmanuel Nyatsikor, GNA
Akim Oda (E/R), Sept. 29, GNA – Rev. Jean-Paul Agidi, Minister in charge of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana at Akim Oda Sunday stated that God takes great interest in human dignity especially of the marginalised.
He therefore advised those in political, traditional and religious positions and all those in positions of civil authority to discharge their duties with humility, probity, diligence and accountability with God in mind.
Rev. Agidi stated this in a sermon he preached at the Akim Oda branch of the Church on the theme “responsibility to the marginalised.”
The texts for the sermon were Psalm 146, Amos 6 4 – 7, I Timothy 6: 6 – 19 and Luke 16: 19 – 31.
Rev. Agidi noted that leadership or occupying a position of power was a special calling because the success or the failure of a nation, society or Church revolved around leadership or governance.
He intimated that some people had the natural inclination to become leaders to enable them to possess power and to amass wealth.
The Minister of the Gospel reminded leaders that they were accountable to God so must ensure that they utilize the power they have for the development of society, the country and the Church.
He asserted that leadership and wealth should also be used for the preservation of human dignity, justice and protection of the poor and vulnerable in society.
He described the marginalised as those who have less power, fewer resources or limited access to opportunities due to factors like race, gender, disability, poverty, religion, sexual orientation or immigration status.
Rev. Agidi said they were also those who were socially and economically and systemically disadvantaged and politically excluded and rendered unworthy or unimportant by the dominant class of people in society.
He said it was the ethical duty of leaders, especially Christians to recognize, support protect and uplift such people.
He urged leaders to refrain from corrupt practices and mismanagement of resources entrusted into their care.
Rev. Agidi was of the view that some leaders had a record of wickedness and oppressive attitude and said the lives of such leaders would end miserably.
He reminded leaders and the wealthy in society that they would ultimately account for their stewardship on earth and ultimately on judgement day.
Rev. Agidi stated that there was a direct relationship between power and wealth, adding that although not all wealthy people were in positions of power.
“People now acquire power with wealth which is usually the norm in partisan politics and some traditional political circles.
“Even in ecclesiastical politics, there is a nexus between wealth and power,” he observed.
He urged leaders to have respect for human dignity, justice and care for the poor and vulnerable through a fair distribution of the nation’s wealth.
GNA
Edited by Maxwell Awumah/Kenneth Odeng Adade