Methodist Church Ghana Presiding Bishop urges Tamale Diocese to rely on God’s grace amid financial challenges

He said the Church’s mission should not be determined solely by the availability of money, but by its commitment to spreading the gospel and serving its members.

“You don’t plan God’s work with only money in mind. You first plan God’s work with the preaching of the word and evangelisation in mind. So we have not allowed money to determine what we do in this Diocese,” he said.

The Presiding Bishop acknowledged that the Tamale Diocese might not have the same financial strength as other dioceses but expressed confidence that God would provide for its needs.

He encouraged the new Bishop to depend on divine grace, drawing on biblical teachings to emphasize that God’s strength often becomes evident in times of weakness.

He also stressed the importance of obedience to Scripture, saying effective episcopal and pastoral leadership required leaders to submit to God and allow His word to guide their decisions and actions.

Speaking in an interview, the newly inducted Bishop, Rt. Rev. Dr. Kris Ewuntomah, said he intended to make the Tamale Diocese financially independent through investments in income-generating ventures.

He said the Diocese had the capacity to become self-sustaining and that generating its own revenue would enable it to finance its ministry and development programmes.

“I have a vision for this Diocese, and my vision is to open up this Diocese and make it attractive. This Diocese is old enough to stand on its feet, and I intend to invest a lot in income-generating ventures. We must be able to invest and make money to do the work of God, and that is one of my priority areas,” he said.

Rt. Rev. Dr. Ewuntomah, who succeeds Rt. Rev. Lawrence Beka, described the challenges facing the Diocese as issues that could be addressed through collective effort and cooperation with the Standing Committee and leaders of the various circuits and societies.

He said his broader vision was to build a Diocese that would be independent financially and spiritually, while becoming a more attractive place for ministers to serve.

He expressed the hope that, by the end of his six-year tenure, ministers would actively seek postings to the Tamale Diocese.

Meanwhile, representatives of various organizations within the Church have expressed expectations of improved infrastructure, stronger youth development programmes and greater efforts to mobilize members across the Diocese.

Some called on the new Bishop to build on the achievements of his predecessors, particularly in the development of manses, chapels and other Church facilities, while investing in the spiritual and personal development of young people.

A representative of the youth said members hoped the new Bishop would create more opportunities for young people, particularly those from deprived communities, to participate in Church programmes and conferences.

The representative said participation in such activities should not be limited to members from the southern part of the country, adding that young people in the north also needed the resources and support to benefit from the Church’s wider programmes.

Other representatives highlighted the need to strengthen youth fellowships and mobilize members in communities across the Diocese, including Yendi and Salaga.

They also appealed to the Bishop to help reach members who had left their communities, saying greater mobilization would enable the fellowship to contribute more effectively to the growth of the Diocese.

The representatives pledged their support for the new Bishop and expressed hope that his leadership would bring renewed spiritual growth, stronger participation and sustainable development to the Tamale Diocese.