Presiding Bishop charges newly commissioned Methodist Ministers to prioritize service over entitlement

The Presiding Bishop of The Methodist Church Ghana, the Most Rev. Prof Johnson Asamoah-Gyadu has urged newly commissioned ministers to remain faithful to their calling, prioritize service to God and His people, and avoid developing a sense of entitlement as they begin their ministerial journey.

The charge was delivered during the Commissioning Service of Ministers of The Methodist Church Ghana at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), on Saturday. The ceremony brought together Bishops, ministers, lay chairmen, church members, and families of the ministers who were commissioned and are set to begin their probation.

Addressing the newly commissioned ministers, the Presiding Bishop cautioned them against taking the occasion lightly, emphasizing that they could not predict the heights God would take them in ministry.

“Do not take what is happening today for granted because you will never know what the Lord will do with you,” he said.

Drawing from his own experience, he noted that several members of his ministerial class had gone on to occupy key leadership positions within The Methodist Church Ghana, including diocesan bishops, seminary presidents, and Presiding Bishops.

“I do not think that 40 years ago it dawned on any of us that this was going to happen,” he stated.

The Presiding Bishop reminded the ministers that their primary responsibility is to serve as emissaries of Jesus Christ.

“Every minister of the Gospel is first and foremost an emissary of the Lord Jesus Christ. You are sent to serve God’s people,” he said, quoting Methodist founder John Wesley’s famous words: “You have nothing to do but to save souls.”

He urged the ministers to remain mindful of the vows they had made during their commissioning.

“You have made vows to be ministers of the Gospel and to serve God’s people. Keep that in mind,” he stressed.

The Presiding Bishop further cautioned against what he described as a growing culture of entitlement among some ministers.

“These days, we are developing too much of an entitlement mentality. Even before people get to their station, they are asking, ‘What is there for me?'” he observed.

He reminded them that they had pledged to serve God through The Methodist Church Ghana and therefore must make the church their priority.

“You have vowed to serve God through The Methodist Church Ghana and that is what you must do. The church should be your priority. You cannot take vows in The Methodist Church Ghana and behave as if you are a free atom,” he said.

Describing his address as a charge rather than a sermon, the Presiding Bishop explained that the message was intended to serve as a set of commanding orders for the newly commissioned ministers as they embark on their probation.

“The reason it is called a charge rather than a sermon is because it is meant to be your commanding orders. We are commissioning you and giving you commanding orders, and you have got to take that seriously,” he stated.

He also encouraged the ministers to reflect on the significance of the Holy Communion, which concluded the service, noting that it serves as a reminder of Christ’s sacrifice and the foundation of the Christian faith.

“The Eucharist must always remind you of the sacrifice of Christ. We break the bread and share the wine to remind each other that Jesus is the source of our salvation,” he said.

The Presiding Bishop further urged the ministers not to disappoint the families, friends, and church members who had supported and prayed for them throughout their journey to ministry.

“You must remember that when you were being commissioned, there were people here who prayed for you. Do not let the community down. When your names were mentioned, your families clapped, your friends clapped, they cheered. Don’t give them any reason to say, ‘How did it end like this?'”

The commissioning service marked an important milestone in the lives of the ministers as they begin their probationary ministry, with church leaders expressing confidence in their ability to serve faithfully and uphold the values and mission of The Methodist Church Ghana.