A statement issued by Archbishop Dr George Slezer Ofori-Atta, Presiding Archbishop, Council of World Bishops and International Council for Clergy, in Accra said members were not enthused about the manner in which Bishop Obinim responded to President Rawlings.
“As a minister of God, one is obliged, enjoined, and commanded by the Bible ‘to let our words be seasoned with salt’. The Bible also strikes a fine balance between the aged and the minister of God Saying ‘rebuke not an elder publicly,” the Council said“Furthermore, our culture as Ghanaians frowns on rebuking and insulting an elder.”
Obinim hit back at Rawlings for criticising his ministry and his healing methods after he[Rawlings] accused Obinim and another preacher, Prophet Nicholas Osei, popularly known as ‘Kumchacha of misleading Ghanaians in the name of God.
A statement signed by the Bishops noted however that Obinim should have exercised restraint no matter how provocative the former leader’s view of Bishop Obinim were.
“We therefore call on Bishop Daniel Obinim to humbly and sincerely render an unqualified apology to former President Rawlings publicly fulfilling scriptural mandate thus: ‘If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men’.”
It also questioned whether Bishop Obinim was directed by the spirit of God to administer deliverance and healing by stamping on the abdomen of a pregnant woman. “Was he instructed by God to undertake this work in this manner publicly?”
The statement asked. “The Council of World Bishops and International Council for Clergy do hereby condemn this mode of deliverance ministration in no uncertain terms.” The statement also asked ministers of God to attach professionalism to their work “If vulgar words emanate from us and particularly when on the pulpit, we desecrate our holy, heavenly and high calling and thereby bring unnecessary reproach on ourselves.May we therefore attend to our work professionally embodying the ethics of the ministry.
It also raised concerns over the decision by the clergy to take consulting fees before attending to members in counselling sessions “All these attitudes being exemplified by some ministers of the gospel are casting a snare on the image of the clergy particularly outside the country. “How can anyone giving pastoral care to his or her flock take money as consulting fee and term it as ‘sacrifice’. “This is extortion and let pastors who are involved in this act abandon it,” the statement said.
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