Concerns have been raised by some Christian Leaders over the situation where some pastors break away from the churches that nurtured them to set up new ones.
General Overseer of Perez Chapel, Bishop Charles Agyin-Asare says pastors who leave the church that nurtured them to establish new ones are ungrateful while the General Overseer of the Lord’s Pentecostal Church International, Apostle Eric Essandoh Otoo believes breaking away from a church should be done amicably if necessary.
The two however agreed that the church just like any other human institution may encounter problems which needs to be resolved.
This came up at the Opening of the 59th Annual General Conference of the Lords Pentecostal Church in Accra, where it emerged that the church has not recorded any case of the coronavirus since March when it was reported in the country.
The 59th Annual General Conference of the church was described as crucial because it will be a platform to brainstorm for the church’s 60th anniversary celebration next year.
The coronavirus pandemic dominated issues discussed at the conference just as Ghanaians and the rest of the world are struggling with the new normal of living with the virus.
Presenting the annual report of the church, General Overseer of the Lords Pentecostal Church International Apostle, Eric Essandoh Otoo said the church supported more than 20 local branches with stimulus packages during the pandemic, just as government did with frontline staff.
Apostle Essandoh Otoo explained that certain conditions warrant a break away by a pastor of church member.
“If you want to break away, you must break away well. There is nothing wrong if you feel you are being led by God to start you own Ministry but it is wrong to start a new church in the same area as the church you broke away from. I don’t think it is ethical”
General Overseer of Perez Chapel Bishop Charles Agyin-Asare also spoke against breaking away from churches to establish new ones.
“If you have been in a particular town as a pastor or an elder or deacon for so many years and suddenly you decide to leave the church to start another church, you are being ungrateful to the church that helped you”.
Apostle Eric Essandoh Otoo was delighted at the appointment the Director of Finance of the church, Rev Dr. Christopher Kwame Sorkpor as a Member of the Public Interest and Accountability Committee, PIAC and encouraged him to serve mother Ghana to his fullest ability. With a population of 16,124 across 160 branches worldwide, the church is not relenting on its vision of setting up at least 300 branches in the next 5 years and winning more than 1,000 souls in the process.
