The Moderator of the General Assembly, Rt. Rev. Dr. Abraham Nana Opare Kwakye, has emphasised that chaplaincies in Presbyterian educational institutions are not minor or peripheral departments but vital extensions of the church’s mission.
He said this at the 8th Annual Consultation on Education at the Ramseyer Training Centre, Abetifi‑Kwahu on Wednesday. He reminded heads of institutions that Presbyterian schools are not “independent republics” operating outside the church’s spiritual oversight.
Rather, they are mission fields entrusted with shaping the moral, spiritual and intellectual foundations of young people. “Principals are not merely secular administrators,” he said. “You are missionaries sent by God. You hold a spiritual office in addition to your administrative duty.”
The Moderator stressed that chaplaincies must be vibrant centres of spiritual formation, not sidelined units. He called for proactive and confidential counseling systems, strong pastoral presence, and visible spiritual atmosphere from the school gate to the classroom.
“Our institutions must be fertile grounds where students encounter Christ,” he said. “When students meet Jesus through institutional witness, the future of the Church and society is secured.”
He urged educators to balance modern educational demands with moral and spiritual foundations, warning against adopting Western models that discard spirituality. “We do not need a new gospel or identity,” he said. “The foundation of discipline, character and hard work has already been laid by Christ.”
The Moderator encouraged heads of institutions to innovate, strengthen chaplaincies, and ensure that Presbyterian values remain non‑negotiable. “Your campuses are mission fields,” he said. “Treat chaplaincies as central pillars of your institutions, not peripheral departments.”
By Jerome Otchere
