The Methodist Church Ghana has inaugurated the newly-created Kumasi North Diocese as an autonomous jurisdiction of the church, comprising several towns in the Ashanti Region.
The colourful ceremony, held on Saturday, November 9, 2024, was attended by about 1,800 members from across the Connexion, who gathered at the Diocesan headquarters, Ebenezer Cathedral, Bantama.
During the ceremony, Rt. Rev. Sampson Obeng Adjei was installed as the Bishop of the Kumasi North Diocese, making it the 23rd Diocese of the Methodist Church Ghana. The event also marked the induction of Bro. Kwasi Agyemang Bediako as the first Lay Chairman of the Diocese.
At the inauguration and induction ceremony at Ebenezer Cathedral, the Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church Ghana, Most Rev. Prof. Asamoah-Gyadu, urged the newly inducted bishop to prioritize the needs of church members, emphasizing that Christian leadership involves serving others. He also encouraged him to foster unity among members.
The Presiding Bishop further advised the new bishop to remain focused, recognizing that not everyone may support him or agree with all his decisions throughout his tenure.
The newly inaugurated Bishop of the Kumasi North Diocese, Rt. Rev. Sampson Obeng Adjei, was born on Saturday, June 10, 1967, commissioned as a Minister in 2003, and ordained at St. Luke Cathedral in Akim Oda in 2006. Over the years, he progressed to become the Synod Secretary of the Kumasi Diocese, from which the Kumasi North Diocese was formed.
The Presiding Bishop again expressed his hope that the new bishop would remain committed to the church’s doctrines and to the Holy Bible, as the church continues to equip its members to grow in the Lord and spread the gospel.
The Presiding Bishop, along with other officiating ministers, presented Rt. Rev. Sampson Obeng Adjei with a skull cap, ring, pectoral cross, Bible, the Methodist Church constitution, and pastoral staff as symbols of his Episcopal Office to complete the induction.
The newly inducted Bishop of the Kumasi North Diocese, Rt. Rev. Sampson Obeng Adjei, accepted his new role and pledged his commitment to faithfully serve the church with humility, promising to work towards achieving the church’s objectives.
BRIEF HISTORY OF THE KUMASI NORTH DIOCESE
The growth of the Methodist Church in the Kumasi Diocese, evidenced by the increasing number {of Ministers, Circuits, Societies, and Members generally,
made effective pastoral care by the Bishop onerous and impracticable.
The Diocese had 40 Circuits spread over a large area stretching from Tepa in the Southwest to Santasi in the south, to Bonwire in the north-east to Yeji in the Bono Region, to the north.
Managing the Diocese from a central point was virtually a nightmare for the Bishop. The need to break up the Diocese into manageable units was imperative.
Consequently, at the 58th Synod of the Kumasi Diocese held at the Wesley Society, Old Tafo, from 2nd to 5th May, 2019, the possibility of carving out new Diocese(s) from the then Kumasi Diocese was discussed and the Standing Committee was tasked to take the necessary steps and present proposals to that effect to the next Synod.
Subsequently, the Standing Committee deliberated on the issue and referred it to the Diocesan Re-Demarcation Committee. The Diocesan Executive, on behalf of the Diocesan Standing Committee, at its meeting held on 17th March, 2020 reconstituted
the Diocesan Re-Demarcation Committee to look at the possibility of re-demarcating the Diocese to create new Dioceses.
The reconstituted Diocesan Re-Demarcation Committee comprised:
i. Bro. Prof. Seth Opuni Asiama- Ayigya Circuit / Chairman{Past Lay chairman]
ii. Rt. Rev. Samuel Fred Ansuh- Supt. Minister, Ayigya Circuit
iii. Rt. Rev. Stephen Richard Bosomtwi-Ayensu-Supt. Minister, Amakom Circuit
iv. Very Rev. Godson Amankwah-Amponsah -Supt. Minister, Abuakwa Circuit
v. Very Rev. Kingsley Kyei Baffour -Supt. Minister, Suame Circuit
vi. Very Rev. Nancy Broni-Appiah -Minister, Kumasi Circuit
vii. Bro. Jonathan Sam -Kumasi Circuit
viii. Sis. Martha Danso -Asuoyeboah Circuit
ix. Bro.Dr Enoch Baah -Ahodwo Circuit/Secretary
The Committee deliberated on the number of Dioceses to be created and considered having either two or three Dioceses.
Considering the fact that the Kumasi Diocese,
at the time had 40 Circuits, it was considered that having two Dioceses meant that each Diocese would have about 20 Circuits while having three Dioceses would mean each Diocese would have an average of 13 Circuits. Since the Diocese had many rural
Circuits, the Committee decided to have two Dioceses so that each Diocese would be strong and financially viable.
The Committee was of the view that at a later date when the Dioceses have grown physically and financially, new Dioceses could be created.
The Committee developed its own criteria for dividing up the existing Circuits into the desired two Dioceses and arrived at the following:
DIOCESE A
Achiase
Ahinsan
Ahodwo
Amakom
Ankaase
Asawasi
Atebubu Atonsu-Agogo
Ayeduase
Ayigya
Bonwire
Brodekwano
Buokrom Estate
Jachie
Kumasi
Kuntenase
New Tafo
Old Tafo
Pankrono
Santasi
Yeji
DIOCESE B
Abuakwa
Akomadan
Asuoyeboa
Bantama
Bohyen
Breman
Essuowin / Mpatuam
Foase
Kwadaso
Maakro
Mankranso
Mpasatia
Nyinahin
Nzema
Offinso
Suame
Tepa
Tetrem
Wioso
Criteria for determining the name of each Diocese and their Diocesan Heads In determining the names of the Dioceses and the Head Circuit of each Diocese, the Committee followed the convention of retaining the existing Diocese and hence Diocese A was named the Kumasi Diocese with Kumasi Circuit and Wesley Cathedral as the Head.
In determining the name of Diocese B the Committee was guided by the following criteria:
i) Financial strength ii) History / Seniority
iii) Facilities available for Bishop’s Manse / Diocesan Office
iv) Land for expansion of facilities
v) Tradition
After considering the above criteria, the Committee proposed that the new Diocese be named and called Kumasi North Diocese with Bantama Circuit and Ebenezer Society, Bantama, as the Diocesan Head Circuit and Cathedral respectively.
These proposals were approved by the Methodist Conference of 2020 held at the Wesley Cathedral in Accra, for implementation.
On Thursday, 1st April, 2021 Rt. Rev. Christopher Nyarko Adam, the Kumasi Diocesan Bishop, met the leaders of the Ebenezer Society in Bantama to officially inform and prepare them for this important development. He also informed the leaders of other circuits that were to be part of the new Diocese.
The logo of the Kumasi North Diocese was designed and presented at the 2022 Synod, held at Ahinsan, under the leadership of Rt. Rev. Stephen Kwaku Owusu.
The Synod approved the logo and its accompanying write-up. The Diocese then submitted the logo and write-up to the 2022 Conference for approval.
In October 2023, nominations were made for the positions of Bishop and Lay Chairman by the Standing Committee of the Kumasi North Diocese.
The nominees for Bishop were the Very Rev. Sampson Obeng Agyei, the Very Rev. Dr. Joseph Owusu Atuahene, and the Very Rev. Samuel Kwaku Opoku. The nominee for Lay Chairman was Brother Kwasi Agyemang Bediako, who was unopposed.
In March 2024, a Trial Synod for the Kumasi North Diocese was held at the Ebenezer Society in Bantama to elect the Bishop and Lay Chairman.
The Very Rev. Sampson Obeng Agyei was elected Bishop with 170 votes, while the Very Rev. Samuel Kwaku Opoku and the Very Rev. Joseph Galley received 45 votes and 3 votes, respectively. Brother Kwasi Agyemang Bediako was elected Lay Chairman with 200 votes.
The Bishop-Elect, the Very Rev. Sampson Obeng Agyei, and the Lay Chairman-Elect, Brother Kwasi Agyemang Bediako, were presented at the 2024 Synod of the Kumasi Diocese, held at Asawasi, and at the 2024 Conference of the Methodist Church Ghana, held at Wesley Cathedral, Kumasi.
Their elections were ratified by Conference under the chairmanship of the Most Rev. Dr. Paul Kwabena Boafo, the Presiding Bishop of Conference. “Kunsu and Barekese are the two newly created circuits, bringing the total number of circuits in the diocese to 21.” – History culled from program brochure.
Story by Daniel Osei, Secretary, Kumasi North Diocesan Guild
