Don’t use the pulpit to insult church members – Presiding Bishop warns

The Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church Ghana, The Most Rev. Prof. Johnson Asamoah-Gyadu, issued a deep message to nine candidates he ordained into ministry during a special service held in New Jersey, USA.

The ordination ceremony was attended by several church leaders, including the Lay President, Mr. Kwesi Attah Antwi, and the Administrative Bishop, The Rt. Rev. Dr. William Mpere Gyakye, marked a defining moment for the newly ordained ministers who have been called to serve both God and humanity with integrity and excellence.

In his sermon, The Most Rev. Prof. Asamoah-Gyadu emphasized that the voice of the minority is indeed the voice of God, reminding the congregation that divine truth often emerges through humble and faithful hearts. He challenged a common saying among Christians that believers are called to be faithful but not successful. The Presiding Bishop firmly disagreed with this notion, declaring that God has called His people to be both faithful and successful.

“Those who are faithful to God receive His blessings and success,” he said. Drawing inspiration from the story of Joshua, he referenced God’s charge to him to remain steadfast in His Word as the key to prosperity and success. “If you are faithful to God,” he stated, “He will bless your ministry. The Methodist Church Ghana seeks successful ministries, not failures.”

The Most Rev. Prof. Asamoah-Gyadu urged the ordained ministers to anchor their ministries on hope, faith, and obedience, describing these as essential virtues that will guide them through the challenges of ministry.

He noted that hope, faith, and obedience are not neutral words but powerful forces that speak a language of positivity and divine possibility. He encouraged the new ministers to immerse themselves in Scripture, reminding them that spiritual growth comes through consistent engagement with God’s Word. Reflecting on a recent encounter with the group, he recounted how he had shared a well-known quotation with them, yet none could recall its biblical source, a reminder, he said, of the importance of continuous study and scriptural familiarity.

The Presiding Bishop also cautioned the newly ordained ministers against using the pulpit for self-promotion or personal attacks. “You have not been called to preach about yourselves or your accomplishments,” he warned. “Neither have you been called to use the pulpit to insult members. You have been called to preach the Word of God with love, humility, and power.” He reaffirmed that true ministry is about service, not status, about leading God’s people with compassion, faithfulness, and obedience to His Word.

Concluding his message, The Most Rev. Prof. Asamoah-Gyadu reflected on the power of faith, citing Hebrews 11:1–6: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.” He reminded the ministers that faith is the cornerstone of Christian life and ministry, the unseen force that sustains the servant of God through trials, uncertainty, and triumph alike.

As the newly ordained ministers embark on their spiritual journeys, the Presiding Bishop’s message stands as a profound reminder that God’s call is both a sacred responsibility and a divine invitation to live out faith, hope, obedience, and success in service to His Kingdom.