State and church to partner for national transformation

The Chief Executive Officer of Salt and light Ministries, Rev. Dr. Joyce Aryee, has called on all Christians to pray and work actively towards peace in the December elections.

She appealed to those who had made up their mind not to have anything to do with the elections to reconsider their decision because it was their civil responsibility to ensure electing good leadership for the benefit of all.

Rev. Dr. Aryee made the call on Wednesday at the opening of a three-day Africa Forum on Religion and Government (AFREG) under theme, “State-church partnership in national transformation” at Cape Coast.

She was speaking on the topic “The Christian responsibility and politics” at the maiden forum organized by the Forum in the Central Region and attended by about 300 participants including church leaders, lecturers, as well as Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives.

The purpose of AFREG, which is made up of other African countries, is to build a movement of African leaders of integrity who are committed to transforming Africa into a premier continent based on God-centered values.

Rev. Dr. Aryee said democracy was God’s way of governance until Jesus comes and was therefore using Christians to choose the nation’s leaders.

She said not everyone could be a leader or be given a political appointment but everyone could serve the nation in any capacity by participating in relevant issues that affect the nation and not getting involved in partisan politics.

She said politics did not need to be dirty as it is now; which has made some Christians think that Christians who serve in public or political offices are bad and would go to hell.

“The Bible makes it clear that as Christians, we have earthly political responsibilities and these responsibilities, like all others must however be in obedience to Christ”, she added.

Mr. Joseph Amenowode, MP for Hohoe South, said it was wrong for people to think Christians should not be involved in politics and that they owed it as a duty to be active participants in the political system.

He said the country’s political system needed large doses of truthfulness, kindness, forgiveness, peace and unity and it was imperative Christians fully participated.

Rev. Professor Emmanuel Addow Obeng, the immediate past Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast who was the guest of honour, said two thirds of the country’s population identify themselves as Christians yet their understanding of what Christ stands for was questionable.

He expressed concern about the kind of messages being preached from pulpits lately, which are mainly miracles at the expense of Christian values like honesty, sacrifice, accountability, holiness and caring for one another.

He said he was saddened by the fact that the church itself was suffering from ambitious leaders who say things to be noticed politically and not things to enhance growth and development of the church and the nation at large.

Rev. Prof. Obeng said in order for partnership between the Church and the state to be effective, the Church must remove the ‘mole’ from its eyes by doing away with negative traits such as favoritism and self-centeredness, in order to achieve national transformation.

Rev. Dr. Peter Ohene-Kyei, Rector of the Pentecost University College and Co-Chairman of the AFREG national planning committee, appealed to Christians to support and pray for those in authority so that there will be peace and prosperity for the citizenry.

He said the church represented God’s rule on earth and so it was important it partners the state in order to bring about positive change and development in the country.**