Asante Presbytery to serve Holy Communion to Chiefs

Kumasi, April 24, GNA - The Asante Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, is to introduce reforms to make it possible for Chiefs and Queens in the Church to take Holy Communion. The Church was sensitive to the cultural identity of members and that given the important role of chiefs in the society, it would give them the needed encouragement to practice their Christian religious faith. The Reverend Kwabena Opuni-Frimpong, the Presbytery Chairperson was speaking at a meeting with the about 30 Chiefs and Queens, who are members of the Church at the Adum Ramseyer Presbyterian Church in Kumasi. He said the move would allow them to become fully accepted by the church and contribute meaningfully towards the growth of Presbyterianism. Traditional rulers are not just denied sharing in the Holy Communion but also suffer hostility from some of the members of the Church because of misconceptions about the chieftaincy institution.

The Chairperson said the reforms would look at the possibility of creating special seats in the Church for them. Additionally, an Association of Presbyterian Chiefs and Queens would also be formed to partner the Presbytery in its outreach and evangelism programmes. Rev. Opuni-Frimpong said they were going to appoint palace Chaplains to visit chiefs and queens to share with them the Word of God. Nana Akosua Amponsah Biraso, Queen of Domeabra, in the Asante-Akim North Municipality and a staunch member of the Church, hailed the decision by the Presbytery to open up to traditional rulers. She said she was confident that the reforms would promote the development of the church and Christianity.