Issued by: Public Relations Officer, Brong Ahafo Presbytery, PCG
B/A Presbytery Praised
The Brong Ahafo Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG) continues to make distinguishing marks in the general life of the PCG. One of the significant feats attained by the Presbytery is its noble compliance with the PCG 50/50 Financial Policy since its implementation in January 2020.
Evaluating the performances of the various Presbyteries at the last General Assembly Council Meeting in November last year, 2023, the immediate past Moderator of the General Assembly of the PCG, Very Rev. Prof. Joseph Obiri Yeboah Mante acknowledged the Presbytery’s strict adherence to the General Assembly’s decision on the Percentage Contribution System and congratulated the Brong Ahafo Presbytery for its exemplary commitment. As it remains his practice, the former Moderator presented a token to Rev. Benjamin Appiah, the Chairperson of the B/A Presbytery.
Speaking to a section of members of the Presbytery at the 2024 New Year School held at the chapel of Ebenezer Congregation, Sunyani, the Presbytery Chairperson urged Agents, i.e., Ministers and Catechists/Caretakers to uphold the values of integrity and faithfulness to ensure that this achievement is not soiled. He admonished members in the following words: “I wish to respectfully encourage all Agents to remit proportionally what is due to every court without compromise. The Presbytery has a reputation for being consistent in this regard, and we cannot afford to tarnish this hard-won reputation.”
Rev. Dr. Godwin Nii Noi Odonkor, the Clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, graced the 2024 New Year School as Guest Expositor of the 2023/2024 ecclesiastical theme; “Jesus Christ the Alpha and the Omega.” Rev. 21:6 added his voice and praised the Presbytery for being fully represented at General Assembly Council (GAC) meetings. He indicated that he is always impressed by the wisdom of the contributions of the Presbytery Chairperson, Rev. Appiah, and the Presbytery Lay Rep to GAC, Mrs. Nancy Arthur towards deliberations. The Clerk of General Assembly is highly optimistic that the future of the PCG is in the Brong Ahafo Presbytery, a statement he made during his visit to the 56th Presbytery Session in 2022.
Officially known as the ‘Percentage Contribution System’, but popularly referred to as the 50/50 policy, it is a replacement for the old Assessment Payment System in the PCG. This allows a proportionate share of weekly proceeds to go to the four courts of the Church. 50% of every proceeds (with a few exceptions) remain in the Congregation, while 15%, 15%, and 20% are remitted to the District, Presbytery, and Head Office respectively. Since this policy was legislated by the 19th General Assembly, the Church has witnessed tremendous infrastructural development (which, hitherto, were forestalled for lack of adequate financial resources), making the PCG visibly present in various communities. Although the policy has its inherent weaknesses, it has hugely enhanced the general ministry of the Church, especially in its social intervention programs.
The Brong Ahafo Presbytery, under the Chairmanship of Rev. Benjamin Appiah promises to protect this reputation of faithful financial stewardship and work harder to remit proceeds that are due every court, thereby making the Presbytery reflect its other name, ‘The Best Achievers Presbytery’.
