ACCRA DIOCESE CELEBRATES METHOFEST 2022
Story: Emmanuel Ashong, Accra
The
Accra Diocese has celebrated the 2022 edition of the Methodist heritage festival
dubbed Methofest.
The
festival which was first launched in Cape Coast, the cradle of Ghana Methodism in
2021, is celebrated as a religious tourism programme by The Methodist Church Ghana
to reflect on the history and religious cultural heritage of the various sites
associated with Methodism.
The
quadrennial Connexional event is preceded by Diocesan celebrations a year prior
to the main event. The next Connexional Methofest will be hosted by the Akyem
Oda Diocese in 2023.
In
light of this, the Accra Diocese organised its Diocesan Methofest celebration on
November 05, 2022 at the Wesley Cathedral, Accra. The programme which was on the
theme “Discipleship: Living the Transformed Life in Jesus Christ; Our Heritage
in Perspective”, was chaired by the first Lay Chairman of the Accra Diocese, Sis
Gladys Afarchoe Odoi, and attended by the Director for Heritage Directorate of The
Methodist Church Ghana, the Very Rev Daniel French as well as the Methodist Bishop
of Accra Diocese, the Rt Rev Emmanuel Borlabi Bortey. Also present were the Lay
Chairman and Synod Secretary of the Accra Diocese, Bro Joseph Eduam and the Very
Rev Mrs Doris Saah respectively as well as the Accra Diocesan Heritage Coordinator,
the Rev Peter Osei Nyame.
Welcoming
participants to the programme, the Superintendent Minister of the Accra
Circuit, the Very Rev Victor B. B. Boyetey was hopeful that “today inspires
ideas and actions around the ways that we can realize our agenda for revival,
transformation and growth”.
The
chairman for the occasion explained that “Methofest contributes to the development
of the Church and State by drawing attention to the need to preserve property bequeathed
to us as well as valuable information and documents handed over to us by our forebearers”.
“It
also serves as a platform for educating our members and the people in our communities
to learn and preserve their historical materials”, Madam Odoi added.
For
his part, Very Rev French who delivered the keynote address, disclosed that, “Heritage
is that part of our Connexional administrative structure that functions by identifying,
researching, packaging and promoting the entire historic resources - both tangible
and intangible born out from the vision, mission, ministry and cultural identity
of The Methodist Church Ghana for the purpose of evangelism that transforms human
life and education”.
He
praised the Accra Diocese for being “at the centre on Connexional Methofest celebrations”
and paid glowing tribute to past Chairmen and General Superintendents of then Accra
District as well as past and incumbent Bishops and Lay Chairmen of the Accra Diocese.
In
a brief remark, the Lay Chairman of Accra Diocese, Bro Joseph Eduam expressed hope
that “the connexion will have a place at her new office building as a museum to
showcase these historical materials which will also generate income for the Church”.
Various
Circuits in the Accra Diocese mounted stands to exhibit artifacts, documents and
archival materials from their respective Circuits in an Inter-Circuits Exhibition
Competition. The Dansoman Circuit took the first position. They were followed closely
by the Kaneshie North and Abeka Circuits in second and third positions respectively.
Awards were presented to the winners at a Thanksgiving Service held on November
06, 2022 at the Wesley Cathedral, Accra.