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Methodist Church Ghana remains committed to biblical tenets – Most Reverend Boafo

By
Christabel Addo, GNA

Accra, July 20, GNA – The Methodist Church
Ghana (MCG) on Friday, disassociated itself from the unanimous decision by the
British Methodist Conference (BMC) to go beyond recognition and
acknowledgement, to regularising same-sex, cohabitation and divorce in the
church.

It said same-sex relationships were neither
supported by biblical teaching nor can the Bible’s position be revised to
support it, hence the MCG rejects any revisionist interpretations of the Bible
that seeks to make same-sex relationships permissible, a decision which clearly
goes against biblical teachings. 

The MCG said the church remains committed to
its biblical tenets, and has not amended her position on marriage as a covenant
between one man and one woman, neither does it permit cohabitation by unmarried
couples nor encourage divorce by Christians.  

The Most Reverend Dr Paul Boafo, the
Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church Ghana, who made this known at a press
conference in Accra, said the decision of the British Conference was a very sad
development for Methodism worldwide given the fact that the root of the faith laid
in that country.

The press conference, he said, was to
clarify some emerging issues suggesting that the MCG was bound by the unanimous
decision of the British Conference which was held in Birmingham from June 29 to
July 4, 2019.

He said being an autonomous Conference since
1961, with its own leadership, the MCG was not bound by the BMC’s decision, but
was saddened by such a conclusion, saying “there are good reasons for our
feelings,” because it amounted to the reversal of long-standing Christian, not
just Methodist beliefs, on marriage and sexuality and the normalisation of
moral behaviour that the Christian Church has historically rejected as
contradictory to God’s Word.

Rev Boafo said the church was particularly
concerned with the trending report on Adom TV that seeks to create the
impression that the MCG was bound by the decision made by the BMC, and was
saddened that the TV reporter choose to file his report from of a Methodist
chapel to draw home a certain effect without first seeking clarification from
any of the Methodist authorities.

He ask the public to disregard all allusions
to the fact that this has to do with the wider Methodist family, that the
decision does not affect the MCG doctrinal position on sexuality or any other
issue for that matter.

The seriousness of BMC’s decision, he said,
was clearer when considered against the backdrop that as Methodists or
Wesleyans, “we belong to an evangelical faith that uphold the integrity of the
Bible and the pursuit of life of holiness,” and has even upheld the position
that male and female sex outside of marriage and same sex relationships or any
other alternate sexual lifestyles such as gay and lesbian options were all
inconsistent with biblical ethics and morality, he said.

He said the church believes that “marriage
is ordained by God,” and as her liturgy on weddings declares, “it is not to be
thought of lightly or selfishly, but in the fear and love of God,” he said.

The Presiding Bishop said the church has
asked its ministers, lay preachers, evangelists and other agents to ensure that
this institution was preserved within the context of God’s Word, making
sexuality a sacred act for the expression of love within long-term covenanted
relationships with responsibilities and privileges defined both by law and by
faith.

He said the MCG has maintained a working
relationship with the British Conference as the “Mother Church” that gave birth
to the MCG, and it was for this reason that its leadership and that of the
British, participated in each other’s conferences and activities, and shared
that heritage with the Methodist churches in other parts of West Africa,
including Nigeria, Sierra Leone, the Gambia, the Republic of Benin and several
others.

He said “we are aware of our Wesleyan heritage
and what it entails, and as an autonomous conference, we resolve to defend
tenaciously the biblical faith that was once delivered unto the saints,”
especially as it affected all areas of human life in their relationship with
God in Christ.

Rev Boafo assured all members of the MCG
community, and by extension all other members of the Body of Christ, that the
Methodist Church Ghana remains unashamedly, a Church that believes in the
authority of the Bible and stands by the Wesleyan teaching on Scriptural Holiness.

He said it is never impossible for God to
use Africans or any remnant believers in the United Kingdom to turn things
around to his glory, saying “we do not hate homosexuals, but we do not believe
that it is possible to opt for that lifestyle and be Christian according to the
teachings of the Bible”.

He said the leadership of the MCG would
communicate its position on the issue to the British Conference Office at a
later date, and continue to engage with them on matters affecting their members
and personnel who worship under the jurisdiction of the British Conference.

GNA     

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