Presiding Bishop worried over lack of development in the Methodist church


The Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church, Ghana, Most Reverend Professor Emmanuel Asante is worried that after the establishment of the Methodist church in the Ghana 180 years ago, the church has not been able to construct an auditorium complex to host its annual national conferences and other activities of national character. He therefore challenged the dioceses to pool their resources to undertake such infrastructural projects devoid of individualism and parochial interest. 

Most Rev. Prof. Asante was speaking at the dedication and official opening of a hospitality centre project, consisting a reception, restaurant complex and shops, undertaken by the Association of Methodist Men’s Fellowship in Kumasi. 

Sometime in the mid-1990s, the Connexional Executive Committee of the Association of Methodist Men’s Fellowships decided to undertake the construction of a conference centre in Accra. Before the physical structures could be constructed however, the land was allocated for the establishment of the Methodist University. Subsequently it was decided in year 2000 that a hospitality centre project initiated by the Kumasi Diocesan Men’s Fellowship, be taken over and adopted as a Connexional Fellowship project. 

The project concept was then redefined as a self-financing hospitality and educational retreat centre to provide a quiet and serene environment suitable for holding conferences for a large number of people as well as being used for retreats for the study of the word of God. 

A total of 693 thousand 201 Ghana Cedis has been expended on the construction of three chalet with 12 self-contained room each, a multi-purpose auditorium, an ablution block for men and women, 200 capacity restaurant and four shops and ancillary facilities. 

The Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church, Ghana, Most Reverend Professor Emmanuel Asante who performed the dedication and official opening of the complex, at the Methodist Retreat Centre at Kwadaso in Kumasi, reminded members of the church not to allow individualism and self-centeredness to retard the progress of the church, but rather mobilize resources to meet its infrastructure needs. He emphasized the need for the church to effectively build on the legacy its forebears left behind to ensure total transformation of the individual.  

Most Rev. Prof. Asante commended the Association of Methodist Men’s Fellowships for its sense of purpose. 

Most Rev. Prof. Asante however expressed worry about the lack of connexionalism in the church, saying that the situation threatens to retard the growth and progress of the church. 

The Connexional Chairman of the Association, Hayford Asare-Bekoe .highlighted many projects the members over the years have embark upon and urged members to effectively contribute for the speedy completion of the all the existing work. He commended members who in their devise way have contributed immensely for the projects.