Religion of Saturday, 22 May 2010

Source: GNA

EP Pastors Association disturbed by hysteria associated with churches

Ho, May 22, GNA - The Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC), Ghana, Pastors Association says it is disturbed by the recent impatience and hysteria associated with disagreements in churches in the country. A statement signed by The Rev Lawson K. Dzanku, Secretary to the EP Church Pastors Association, said many of such problems were only misunderstandings that could be settled amicably if appropriately channelled.

It recalled the Association's recent condemnation of the incident at Martyrs of Uganda Roman Catholic Church when it was desecrated with human excreta by some church youth, only to be confronted with a supposed revolt against the Parish Pastor of the Mamprobi EP church. The Mamprobi EP Church protestors had accused the Pastor and leadership of the Church of not being accountable enough. In all these cases, according to the statement, what was needed was some restraint, saying "if we exercise restraint we will be able to do what God will want us to do".

It recalled the schism in the EP Church in the 1990s which put blight on the church and demanded circumspection from people with grievances in the church.

The statement said that "in an attempt to solve the problems that confront us impatiently and in anger, we may end up creating more severe and serious ones".

The aggrieved members of the Mamprobi EP Church in their protestation demanded the transfer of the Pastor, The Rev D.K. Tetteh, but the Pastors Association said it was unnecessary. The Association also contended that the supposed curse invoked on the Church by the Pastor could be a misunderstanding of what he meant and that those words meant no harm. "We think and believe that no Pastor would like to curse the members of his church but if this should happen then it was unfortunate," the statement said.