Last week, I had a very fruitful conversation with one of my mentors, a minister in the Presbyterian Church of Ghana. As usual, he was checking in on my plans for ministry and academia following my graduation from Yale this year. He frequently reaches out for us to discuss both personal matters and church affairs. He has been a wonderful friend for many years. Our latest discussion focused on the welfare of ministers in the Presbyterian Church of Ghana. After our conversation, I felt compelled to share some of my concerns here. Your thoughts are welcome as well.
As always, let me emphasize that my motivations are entirely pure and not vitriolic. Just like any member of the church, I have a deep affection for the church, and my ultimate goal is to witness its growth and continuous development in every area. Having had the privilege and grace to serve as a catechist, YPG National President, and Youth Representative on the GAC, I am confident that my dedication to this church is beyond question. My experiences in these leadership roles have exposed me to the admirable aspects of the church and those areas where we have room to grow. Though I have many thoughts and issues of concern, for this blog, I will address a single concern: the conditions under which Ministers of the PCG serve, particularly concerning their inductions and send-off services meant to honor their service.
Over time, these induction and send-off services have inadvertently fostered injustice and exacerbated disparities among ministers. Regrettably, only a handful of ministers appear to benefit financially, while many others are left poor.
During my formative years, I nurtured an unwavering aspiration to join the church’s ordained ministry. It was my constant prayer and desire to don the distinctive PCG clerical and ordination attire. Numerous mentors within the church, among them Rev. Albert Baffour Koomson, Mr. Francis Baah, and Rev. Andrew Shadow were aware of my persistent desire to become a part of the PCG ordained ministry. Thus, it came as no surprise to many when, at the age of 22, I was consecrated as the youngest catechist of the church then.