Engage and mentor the youth for the future of the church – Immediate Past Lay President

The Immediate Past Lay President of the Methodist Church Ghana, Bro. William Orleans Oduro, Esq., has called on Lay Chairmen across the various dioceses to harness and develop the talents of young people in their jurisdictions in order to advance the growth of the Church.

According to him, while young people may appear inexperienced, they are innovative, energetic, and capable of contributing significantly if properly guided. Sharing from his own experience, he revealed that during his tenure, he engaged the youth extensively and they proved to be of immense support.

“The young people are there—use them. They may be inexperienced, but they are smart. With your experience, you can shape and guide them,” he emphasized.

Bro. William Oduro made these remarks at the Lay Meeting of the 13th Expanded General Purposes Council (EGPC) of the Methodist Church Ghana, currently underway at the Wesley Methodist Cathedral, Cape Coast.

He further encouraged Lay Chairmen to be proactive in supporting their bishops to grow the dioceses, stressing that offering sound and constructive advice was one of their most important responsibilities. “The worst you can do as Lay Chairmen is to fail to provide your bishops with good counsel,” he cautioned.

Addressing the issue of Society Stewards, he advised against subjecting their appointments to elections, reminding participants that the Constitution of the Methodist Church Ghana clearly stipulates that such positions are by appointment.

“Be conversant with the provisions of the Church’s Constitution and ensure that other lay officers under your leadership also study and apply it,” he added.

During the discussions, the question of whether Society Stewards could serve simultaneously as Lay Chairmen was raised. While some delegates supported the idea, others argued that the two roles are distinct and must remain separate.

In response, the current Lay President, Bro. Kwesi Atta Antwi, urged members to reflect deeply on the matter and continue the dialogue for the benefit of the Church’s growth and unity.

This featured article was written by Augustina Tawiah.