Professor Johnson Kwabena Asamoah-Gyadu has been elected as the new Presiding Bishop of Methodist Church Ghana.

He was elected on Saturday at the ongoing conference of the church at the Wesley Cathedral in Kumasi.

He will take over from Most Rev Dr Paul Kwabena Boafo who is finishing his tenure.

Very Rev Prof Asamoah-Gyadu is the President of the Trinity Theological Seminary at Legon in Accra.

At the election held on Saturday, August 31 , 2024 at the 51st and 13th Biennial Conference of the church in Kumasi to among others elect a new leader, Very Rev Prof Asamoah-Gyadu emerged as the new leader with 226 votes, representing 53.33 per cent of the votes cast.

The current Administrative Bishop of the church, Right Rev Michael Agyarkwa Bossman, came closest with 99 votes representing 23.8 per cent while the Bishop of the Northern Accra Diocese of the church, Right Rev Professor Manasseh Edusa-Eyison got  82 votes representing 19.7 per cent.

The rest are Right Rev Dr Emmanuel Asare Kusi, seven votes (1.68 per cent); Right Rev Samuel Kofi Osabutey, one vote (0.24 per cent) and Very Rev Comfort Ruth Papafio, one vote (0.24 per cent).

Immediately after being declared the Presiding Bishop-elect by the Most Rev Paul Boafo, Canticle Two from the Methodist Hymn Book was sang by the conference delegates rendering thanks to God.

In his acceptance speech, the Presiding Bishop-elect, Very Rev Prof Asamoah-Gyadu thanked God and the delegates for the opportunity to serve God.

“It is the Lord who has spoken through you. I promise that I will serve with all my heart,” he said.

“Together we will find, follow and do what God’s will is for the next six years,” he added.

Presiding Bishop

The Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church Ghana is the Head of the Methodist Church Ghana.

During the last year of an incumbent Presiding Bishop’s tenure, according to the constitution of the church, Conference shall by a secret ballot elect a qualified person to be the Presiding Bishop-elect with the intent that he shall take office as Presiding Bishop beginning October 1, of the same year.

When the last year of a Presiding Bishop falls within a non-Conference year, election for a new Presiding Bishop shall take place at the previous Biennial Conference with the intent that the elected Presiding Bishop takes office as the Presiding Bishop beginning October 1, of the following year.

The election of Very Rev Professor John Kwabena Asamoah-Gyadu falls in a conference year so he will take over as the new head of the church on October 1, 2024.

What is conference in the Methodist Church Ghana?

Conference is the governing body of the Methodist Church Ghana. It normally meets biennially

For the election of a Presiding Bishop, a ballot or successive ballots shall be taken without previous nomination until a qualified candidate receives a majority of over 50% of the valid votes cast; the first qualified candidate to receive such a majority is deemed to be the person elected.

Powers and Duties of a Presiding Bishop of Conference

The Presiding Bishop is set apart for full-time service and exercises pastoral and spiritual oversight over the whole Church.

He is the principal representative and spokesperson of the Church in its relations with other Churches, the Government and people of Ghana.

The conference will also elect a new Administrative Bishop of the church

As of the time of filing this report, the election of a nominee for that position was ongoing.

Source: GraphicOnline