The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Rt. Rev. Dr. Abraham Nana Opare Kwakye, has called for a renewed and more holistic approach to welfare across the church, stressing that support for members must extend far beyond funerals, weddings, and naming ceremonies.
In his address at the 26th General Assembly at the Ramseyer Training Centre in Abetifi–Kwahu, the Moderator reminded the church that welfare has been central to church life since the earliest Christian community. He cited Acts 6, noting that the first major internal challenge of the early church arose from welfare complaints, a sign that caring for members is foundational to Christian fellowship.
He recalled that the 17th General Assembly abolished contributory welfare schemes, popularly known as “No Contribution, No Chop,” directing congregations to operate general welfare systems that benefit all members. Although congregations have since explored new ways of sharing welfare resources, he said many members still feel their needs are not adequately met, leading some to leave the PCG for churches with more attractive welfare packages.
Under the church’s Percentage Financial System, welfare funds are levy‑free, and congregations are now permitted to take two levy‑free welfare offerings per month. Yet the Moderator stressed that welfare must be broadened to include scholarships, care for the poor, and evangelism, areas the church’s Strategic Plan requires courts to allocate 15% of total expenditures to, but which he said have not received the seriousness they deserve.
He commended congregations introducing innovative welfare initiatives, highlighting the Ebenezer Congregation, Osu, for its food bank that provides non‑perishable items to the needy. He encouraged other congregations to adopt similar context‑appropriate models, reminding the Assembly of James 1:27: “Religion that is pure and undefiled… is to visit orphans and widows in their affliction.”
The Moderator issued a stern warning against attempts to reintroduce contributory welfare schemes in some congregations, stressing that the General Assembly has already ruled against such practices and that any Session or agent who violates the directive will face sanctions.
He also condemned congregations that skip normal Sunday offerings on welfare Sundays, noting that such actions deprive higher courts of essential resources. “If these do not change,” he cautioned, “it may become necessary to revise the Assembly’s directives on welfare offerings.”
By Jerome Otchere
