170 TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

SHORT ADDRESS BY THE MOST REV. DR. ROBERT ABOAGYE-MENSAH,

PRESIDING BISHOP

AT THE LAUNCHING OF THE 170 TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION OF

METHODISM IN GHANA ON 17 TH NOVEMBER 2004

The story of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society in Ghana is a long record of sacrificial service. It began on New Year’s Day in 1835 when the first missionary from England , Rev. Joseph Rhodes Dunwell, landed at Cape Coast Castle . Two days before, at Elmina he wrote in his journal:

“What my feelings have been this day, I cannot describe. The place of my future residence is in view; it may prove the spot where I shall finish my earthly existence; and there the name of Jesus Christ may be honoured or dishonoured by me. But, in the strength of grace, they will be spent in the service of God. All things appear to me to sink into nothingness, compared with the great work of my Divine Lord and Master.”

This is a moving statement from a man who dedicated his entire life for the work and the glory of God. This sacrificial spirit was the conviction of all those missionaries and their wives, and the local men and women who laid the foundation of the Methodist Church Ghana. They were determined like John Wesley, the Father of Methodism to reach all people with the message of the good news of the love of God in Christ Jesus.

In our generation too we need the same sacrificial spirit and the determination to reach all women, men, the young people and children with the same gospel. It is with this in mind that The Methodist Church, Ghana has chosen for the theme of the 170 th Anniversary Celebration “Making Disciples of all Nations” (Matt. 28:19).

This is a significant theme as it is specific. In the 170 years of operation in Ghana , Methodists can proudly claim that the Methodist Church Ghana has affected almost all aspects of public life with particular reference to education, governance and politics, health and many areas of social life. We have however chosen the theme “Making Disciples of All Nations” to highlight the original motivating power and force that gave birth and sustained the programme of the Methodist Church .

Under that drive we have been able to score and sustain a number of achievements including the training of nationalists, journalists, teachers, ministers, lawyers and doctors, who pioneered the Aborigines Rights Protection Society that ensured the preservation of our lands for Ghana and raised political consciousness in Ghana. That contributed to Ghana becoming the first independent nation, in black Africa . Methodists pioneered girls and women’s education and sustained top quality grades and leadership. Methodists established the first secondary school in 1876 that led in leadership and training of public servants and agents for the church, the first teacher training and tertiary institution in Asante and north of the Pra river. Wesley College became the symbol of the cooperation between Christ and Culture and the symbol of the potential of the blend of African and Western leadership under Christ.

Whatever caused Africa to earn the name Dark Continent , whatever caused Africa to be the slave continent, we now need to caution Africa not to lend itself to be enslaved again. Those who are aware of the claim of Christ “if the son shall make you free you shall be free indeed” must pray and work and find the means of proclaiming and experiencing his freedom.

With the spate of wars and political instability in Africa , with instances of man’s inhumanity to man even in Ghana we need to look at the challenges of our theme “Making Disciples of All Nations.”

The Church needs to wake up to her responsibility of being ambassadors of reconciliation, which is spelt out clearly in 2 Corinthians 5:17-19. We need to sound out loud and clear that God is the initiator of reconciliation of sinful man and that God through Christ is reconciling the world unto Himself. It is the gospel message now not only for Ghana , but all of Africa and the world at large. For Methodists, the world is our parish, and we deem it our primary responsibility to bring Men and women to the saving knowledge of Christ and make them have impact on their communities and the nation as a whole.

The 170 th Anniversary celebration is first and foremost an act of united praise and thanksgiving to God for all the way in which He has led the church to fulfill its divine and human responsibilities. It is also a call to solemn prayer that we may be worthy of the glorious heritage that is ours and re-consecrate ourselves to that great task to which Methodism was originally committed, the task of spreading scriptural holiness throughout the land.

The Planning Committee of the 170 th Anniversary Celebration has set itself the challenge of raising funds, throughout the connexion in Ghana and in our churches and fellowships abroad, to build a Presiding Bishop’s court or Manse.

I. DURATION FOR THE CELEBRATION

STARTING DATE: 17 TH NOVEMBER 2004

CLIMAX: 27 TH NOVEMBER 2005

II. PROPOSED PROGRAMME OF ACTIVITIES FOR 2004

ACTIVITY DATE

Launching of Anniversary - 17 th November,

Inaugural Service for the Planning Committee 5 th December

at Mt. Olivet Society Dansoman.

Diocesan Launching (All Dioceses) 12 th December

III. PROPOSED PROGRAMME OF ACTIVITIES FOR 2005

1. REMEMBRANCE SERVICE 2 nd January

• 1 st January is the date that Methodism

was born in Ghana (Gold Coast).

It marked the arrival of the first

Missionary, The Rev. Joseph

Rhodes Dunwell to Ghana . All Societies in the

Connexion are required to organize this

Special service.

• The service should begin at 10.30 a.m.

The Connexional Planning Committee

Would provide a guided programme for the service.

• Diocesan Bishops are humbly

required to ensure that this special

service is observed in all societies

within the Dioceses.

• Cape Coast being the cradle of

Ghana Methodism, the Church Hierarchy

and the Planning Committee members

would participate in the service at Wesley Cathedral.

Cape Coast .

2. LAUNCHING OF INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS 12 th February, 2005

TOURISM INITIATIVE

This Connexional Programme of

activity would take place in Accra .

It is to be planned by the History,

Archives and Library Division. It would

be a means where the church’s rich Historical

and cultural heritage would be explored.

3. ANNIVERSARY – CHILDREN’S FESTIVAL 14 TH – 20 TH FEBRUARY

This is a Connexional programme to be held

In all societies. It is anticipated that Rev.

Ministers, Caretakers, Evangelist and Society

Stewards would ensure an effective planning

Of the day to day activities to make this special

Festival a memorable one.

• Directives would be given the

Christian Education Division.

• Its being suggested that the

programme should expose the

children to environmental concerns:

organizing clean-up campaigns

and tree planting exercises.

4. ANNIVERSAY – WOMEN’S FESTIVAL 7 TH – 13 TH MARCH

The Women’s Festival of the anniversary

Would be a special programme which will

Embrace all women within the Methodist fold.

The Women’s Division of the Church would

Draw up a weeklong programme that would

be observed in all societies. Apart from the

Theme “Making Disciples of all Nations”

being the focus, it is expected that, environmental

Concerns would be addressed in the areas of

tree – planting exercise and Sanitation.

5. TIME WITH THE ELDERLY (EASTER MONDAY) 27 TH MARCH

With the anniversary celebration, the Church would

want all societies to organize a reception for the elderly

on an Easter Monday. It should be seen as a forum

Where the elderly would share their experiences in the

Connexion with the Church’s growth and expansion.

Those in charge of societies i.e. Caretakers, Society Stewards

Rev. Minister etc. would be expected to draw up an

elaborate programme which would involve the

elderly socializing with the other members of the society.

6. ANNIVERSARY – MEN’S FESTIVAL 16 TH – 22 ND MAY

The Men’s Festival is a weeklong activity to be celebrated

In all societies. As a special anniversary Programme, all

Men in the Church are to participate in the activity.

Lay Ministries Division would be in charge of this

Memorable Festival.

7. ALDERSGATE / EVANGELISM WEEK 23 RD – 29 TH MAY

The Aldersgate / Evangelism week activities for the

Anniversary year is to be a unique one. It is the

Church’s vision to double her membership in 5 years

time. This week long activity should focus on serious

outreach, coupled with church planting

exercises.

Societies in the entire Connexion would be expected to

embark upon vigorous Evangelism /Discipleship

programme. The Division for Evangelism and Renewal

would give directives regarding this activity.

8. LAY MOVEMENT WEEK 11 TH – 17 TH JULY

This week of celebrating by the Lay Movement of the

Church is to be observed in all societies. It would be a

special programme to be directed by the Executive

members of the Lay Movement. The celebration should

be used as a means where the Lay would rededicate their

commitment to the Church of Christ . The weeklong

Programme should include environment exercises.

9. ANNIVERSARY YOUTH FESTIVAL 11 TH – 17 TH JULY

The Youth Ministries Division would plan for this special

Anniversary Youth Festival. This weeklong activity is to be

organized at social level. The Youth would be expected to

be given further education on evangelism, the history of the

Church, and be exposed to environmental exercise

Initiatives i.e. clean-up exercises, sanitation etc etc.

10. ANNIVERSARY METHOFEST 6 TH – 12 TH JUNE

The 4 th Connexional Methofest activity coincides with

the 170 th Anniversary. It is to be held at Sekondi.

All the Dioceses are required to prepare and participate

fully in the areas of exhibition and quiz competitions.

The History, Archives and Library Division of the church

would be in charge of the Programme.

• DUNWELL – ACQUAAH – GRANT MEMORIAL LECTURES

It is expected that, at Circuits and Diocesan levels of the

Church, this Memorial Lectures will be organized using the

same topic at a date scheduled after the Connexional one.

This memorial Lectures would be institutionalized and will be

Organized at every non-Conference year. Speaker for the

maiden memorial Lectures at Connexional level is the

Most Rev. Prof. Emeritus Kwesi Dickson.

• ANNIVERSARY EDUCATION WEEK

The Education week had been instituted to revisit the church’s

Educational contribution and impact on national growth.

It is to create. The awareness about the importance of education.

This week long activity is to be observed in all the societies and the

Methodist Schools at all levels. Programme to serve as a guide

Would be produced by the General Director, Board of Education

and Youth.

13. ANNIVERSARY – DIOCESAN CRUSADES & THANKGIVING 13 TH – 15 TH NOV. SERVICE

The Diocesan Crusade & Thanksgiving Services will mark the

end of all activities in connection with the 170 th Anniversary

at Diocesan level.

However, Diocesan Anniversary Planning Committee should

fix dates for the celebration of societies and circuits.

Thanksgiving Service before the Diocesan Crusade and

Thanksgiving to be organized in all the Dioceses.

The Planning of these activities would be done by the Diocesan

Planning Committee.

14. ANNIVERSARY CONNEXIONAL CRUSADE 23 rd – 26 th NOV.

The Connexion would organize the Crusade and

Thanksgiving Service at the Independence Square , Accra

15. FREE MEDICAL CARE AND HIV AWARENESS CAMPAIGN 19 TH NOV.

The Division for Health and Sanitation would plan a free

medical care. Medical personnel together with the Youth

members from Accra , Tema and Winneba Dioceses would

be recruited for this exercises.

16. ANNIVERSARY DINNER 19 TH NOV.

The Connexional Planning Committee would organize this

Dinner Programme. It would be expected that, similar

Dinner Programmes are organized in all Dioceses.

17. ANNIVERSARY THANKSGIVING SERVICE 27 TH NOV.

The Thanksgiving Service would climax the entire

Anniversary celebration in Accra .