Lay movement of Methodist Church holds Annual Conference

The Most Rev. Professor Emmanuel K. Asante, Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church, has urged Christian to make themselves available to be nurtured, and help nature others, so that collectively they could practice their spirituality in a holistic manner for the transformation of the Church and society.

The Most Rev. Prof. Asante made the call at the opening of the 59th and 4th Biennial Conference of the Methodist Church Connexional Lay Movement at Winneba, under the theme: “Witnessing to Christ in Holistic Spirituality: The Role of the Lay”.

The Conference is to take stock of the movement’s past activities to see whether it is on course in its set task, re-strategize, and plan to forge ahead, and as a movement, work for Christ in holistic spirituality.

“I am proud to be associated with the Connexional Lay Movement, more so, when their collective vision is calling people to saving faith in Christ, discipline them in context with the Holy Spirit and thus making positive differences in their lives,' the Bishop said.

The Presiding Bishop said Methodists had always prided themselves in living lives of holiness of heart and life, which by implication meant that their lives were marked by growth in their relationship with God and their fellows; being involved in working for a just society where every person was not only regarded as created in the image of God, but also treated as such with respect and dignity.

The Most Rev. Prof. Asante said it was only when they began to lead lives for the glory of God and for the benefit of society that they could truly wear the label, Christians, and then serve as models worthy of emulation.

He also urged the members not to compromise to lifestyles and attitudes that demeaned and dehumanized people, but should let their holiness based on the scripture have positive impact on society.

Brother Kwame A .Boafo, the Lay Movement President, said the theme for the Conference was chosen in order for them to reflect on the relevance of the movement, within the context of the role of the church as a whole in society.

He said during the year under review, the Movement was able to provide a brand new Ford Ranger double-decker pick-up, 18 bicycles and three motor bikes, to the Northern Ghana Diocese, motor bikes to Wenchi and Cape Coast Dioceses an amount of GHc 25,000.00 to the Methodist University College infrastructure development.

He urged members of the movement to continue to witness to Christ in holistic spirituality, provide assistance to less endowed societies with pavilions, to enable them to have places of worship.