Rejoinder on the article about Methodist churches -north America

RE: CONGRATULATIONS METHODIST ARISE AND SHINE

I must begin by thanking God for people like Mr. Michael Gyamfi who have been placed in responsible positions within the Ghana Methodist churches hierarchy in North American District. It is wonderful and very encouraging to read such a piece from an insider who acknowledges a growing problem and is very much willing to take positive stance to bring the problem to the table for deliberations and seek better solutions that will positively impact the flock here and at home. Bravo Mr. Gyamfi.

Before I take my turn to contribute on the issues raised by Mr. Gyamfi, I would like to address one pertinent issue that I am very passionate, and talk about in the Ghanaian societies of the Methodist church in North America, and that issue, is the confusion about identity. Whilst some churches refer to themselves as “Ghana United Methodist Church” of which my own congregation in the Bronx is one of such churches, others call themselves “Ghana Methodist Church” as the one in Brooklyn is called. I think this confusion stems from the fact that, some churches are affiliated to the United Methodist Church here in America whilst some are independent of this parochial affiliation.

The problem with these names is that we do not have any United Methodist church in Ghana, so by extension, we can not have Ghana United Methodist church’s society or branch in North America. We do have “The Methodist Church of Ghana”. Therefore, any Ghanaian church here in America, that claims affiliation with the parent church in Ghana must be properly named as such. For example, we could have “Methodist church of Ghana, Bronx Society”, “Methodist church of Ghana, Brooklyn Assembly” and etc. If on the other hand, any of the predominantly Ghanaian Methodist churches here in North America, wishes to affiliate itself with the United Methodist Church of North America, that is equally fine but such churches must be properly identified as such, We can have through such affiliations societies like, “Ghanaian United Methodist Church, Bronx or Brooklyn and for that matter anywhere in North America, asserting an identity as a United Methodist church dominated by Ghanaians, the same way that we have Korean United Methodist church. We already have “First Ghana SDA church in America-Bronx”, “Pentecost church of Ghana-Bronx”, “Apostolic Church of Ghana-Bronx’. The Methodist churches must assert their proper identity as a new way forward. Now, enough on the identity issue, and back to the all important issue raised by Mr. Gyamfi.

It is extremely important that Pastors who come to America to shepherd the flock here realize that, back home in Ghana, no individual pastor is allowed to be with any society forever. There is a reason for this unique arrangement where pastors come and go. We all agree that there are ample opportunities here in America for pastors who come here to better their lives and that of their families; however, it is selfish on the part of any single pastor who comes here, to deny another pastor back home the same opportunity to come and enjoy some of the goodies. That behavior is reminiscent of the pronouncement of Peter on the mountain of transfiguration, when he said “Master, it is good that we came here and as we are here, let us have three booths, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah”. Luke 9: 33-34. We all know that given the chance, any pastor who sojourns here would love to stay for good, but that is not why they came here in the first place. They must, therefore, return so others can also come.

Now what must be the way forward in resolving this apparent crisis?

In very simplistic terms, pastors who come here must be made to sign two contracts; one with the parent church in Ghana stipulating that he/she is being posted for the overseas duty for a definite period of time, not exceeding two terms for a pastor in any station in the Ghana societies back home. Secondly, the incumbent pastor must be made to sign another memorandum of understanding with the Diaspora church he/she is coming to shepherd that, after the expiration of the term limit, he/she will return to Ghana or leave the church for another pastor to come and work in it. This rotational arrangement, if organized very well would help so many pastors in Ghana to overcome some of their financial difficulties whiles they remain steadfast with Gods work. The churches here in America would enjoy the benefit of not getting stuck with one pastor for so long, often to the detriment of members’ spiritual growth.

Secondly, it would also be very good that only pastors who gain admissions into colleges here in America to better their education be considered and allowed this official posting to American churches. This way, the diaspora church would help to pay his tuition and at the same time be able to pay him/her some stipend that would be enough to cater for his family if any. In the end, the pastor would return home with higher educational attainment to benefit himself and the parent church in Ghana without any direct cost to the parent church back home. This arrangement would be one surest way that the parent church in Ghana would benefit directly from the churches here in America. For this arrangement to take hold and succeed, the Ghanaian Methodist churches here in America must agree to be part of the Methodist conference in Ghana.

By and large, I can trust that nobody envisioned this situation happening about fifty years ago, however, poverty and migration has brought this upon us, whether we like it all not. We have a unique identity as Ghanaians and most especially as first generation Ghanaians in America; we can not be easily absorbed into the “Oyibo” Methodism, at least not until the third generation after us. We must therefore, exploit this situation to the mutual benefit of ourselves and the Methodist church, Ghana.

God Bless the Methodist church, Ghana God Bless the Ghanaian Methodist churches in America, Amen

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