Kumasi, June 11, GNA - The second synod of the Ashanti/Brong-Ahafo Presbytery of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana, opened in Kumasi on Friday with an appeal to Christians to uphold the values of Christianity and save its the waning image.

The Reverend Richard Kwame Nimo, acting Moderator of the Presbytery, expressed worry that their core values of compassion for the poor, honesty, truthfulness, and self-discipline were fast giving way to greed and all sorts of disgraceful conduct.

"It is common in our society today to see some men of God engaged in occultism, hypnotism, deception and all manner of fraudulent deals in their craze for material wealth, fame and power," he observed.

"They are simply not interested in the salvation of the people," he complained.

"They are just taking undue advantage of their innocence to dupe them." "Integrity in Mission and Ministry," is the theme for the three-day conference.

The church is using the event to take stock of its activities in the past and plan new programmes to promote growth and expand its reach.

Rev Nimo said they were implementing a five-year strategic plan targeted at increased income generation to help the church become self-dependent.

The Moderator said Christians should do more to help turn people away from evil and transform the society.

Professor William Otoo Ellis, Vice Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, (KNUST) in a message wished the Church a successful synod and said he was confident that they would use the occasion to renew their faith.