The Methodist Church on Sunday inducted Right Reverend Professor Joseph M.Y. Edusa Eyison, as Bishop and Mr Nimo Ahinkorah, as the Lay Chairman, for the Northern Accra Diocese of the Church.
The induction ceremony, which gave the appointees an authority to promote peace, stability, discipline and socio-economic development in the Diocese, was on the theme: “Go and Make Disciples of All Nations, Intensifying Our Teaching Ministry for Disciple Making”.
The appointees were given the mandate by appointment and election. The Bishop was given a ‘ring’ as a sign of his fidelity to Christ and invaluable faith to protect the church as the bride of Jesus Christ; and a ‘pectoral cross’ to always remind him of how Christ suffered and the need for him to prepare to suffer for Christ as well.
He was also given a ‘Holy Bible’ as a token of Authority to lead the Diocese and allow the Holy Spirit to manifest through him with prophetic words for his people; and the ‘Methodist Constitution’ to guide his operations with the Church’s standing orders and doctrines.
He was also given a ‘pastoral staff’ to remind him of how he had been called by God to be good shepherd to His people and the need for him to be merciful as he exercised discipline in his leadership.
The Most Reverend Dr Paul Kwabena Boafo, the Presiding Bishop of the Church, who performed the induction, urged them to evangelise and witness Christ to those who do not believe He exists as they had now become a Diocese with circuits and societies under them, and hence a bigger responsibility.
He said: “It is your obligation as a Diocese to love those under you and be prepared to offer a helping hand to them. Being a Diocese comes with many challenges but be attentive, work as a team and never stop praying for the Diocese, and you will achieve your goals”.
Most Rev Dr Boafo told them, they had over 42,000 people entrusted under their care, adding that the Church mandated them to increase the membership of the Methodist Church in the Diocese by 10 per cent by the end of their tenure.
He urged them to let the communities within their Diocese see the relevance of the existence of the Church, saying, they could do that by nurturing the people and supporting them to have infrastructural development such as schools and hospitals.
Rt. Rev. Prof Eyison and Mr Ahenkorah declaring acceptance of their new positions pledged their preparedness to exercise their duties with humility and order from the Church and the teachings of the Bible.
They gave the assurance that they were going to serve the congregation and Diocese as a Bishop, Lay Chairman, Pastor and Friend.
Rt. Rev. Prof Eyison was a Senior Lecturer at the University of Cape Coast, Central University, Akrofi-Christaller Institute of Theology, Mission and Culture, and the Regent University College. Mr Ahenkorah had served the ECOWAS Commission and United Nations as a Consultant in Quality Infrastructure to develop the ECOWAS Regional Quality Process and policy and also assisted in the establishment of Metrology Infrastructure for all the 15 Member States of ECOWAS.
The ceremony was graced by Madam Mathilda Amissah-Arthur, the former wife of the Late Vice President Paa Kwesi Amissah Arthur, Mrs Ursula Owusu Ekuful, Mr Jacob Osei Yeboah, and Nana Kobina Nketsiah, Omanhene of Esikado Traditonal Area.
By Eunice Hilda Ampomah, GNA
