Most Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Kwaku Asante, former Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church Ghana (MCG) and past Chairman of the National Peace Council, has drawn a sharp distinction between office bearing and true leadership.
Speaking at the launch of his latest book “Ministry and Leadership in Context” at the Calvary Methodist Church at Amakom in Kumasi, the respected theologian and peace advocate warned that simply occupying a position does not make one a leader.
“The fact that somebody is an office bearer does not make that person a leader, and this book argues strongly for that,” he stated.
The newly launched book, comprising nine chapters, offers practical and theological insights into Christian ministry in a multi-ethnic, multi-religious society. It serves as a sequel to his earlier work, “The Call to Serve”, and is aimed at guiding both clergy and laypersons in ethical, inclusive and contextually relevant leadership.
Prof Asante explained that Ministry and Leadership in Context was inspired by gaps he identified in Christian leadership discourse during years of engagement with students and pastors.
“There are gaps that need to be filled… so I said to myself, the next opportunity the Lord gives me, I’ll try and build this lacuna,” he noted.
Not Every Leader Takes Responsibility
In a post-launch media interaction, Prof. Asante criticized what he described as “glory-seeking” leaders who evade responsibility in times of failure.
“A bad leader takes the credit when things go well, and blames others when things go wrong. A true leader stays with the people, cooperates with others and ensures that the core values and vision of an institution are upheld,” he said.
He added that his own journey in the ministry while serving in various offices, motivated him to transcend mere position-holding to become a transformative leader.
Wesleyans Must Read and Think Critically
Prof. Asante used the occasion to urge Methodists and Ghanaians in general to cultivate the habit of reading sound Christian literature.
“People are publishing all sorts of things… We should read and be enlightened so that nobody deceives us,” he lamented, criticizing the popularity of sensational, but theologically weak materials.
“In the Methodist Church, we expect our ministers and local preachers to read and read and read,” he stressed. He bemoaned the often-cited phrase, “If you want to hide something from a Ghanaian, put it in a book,” calling it a “sad commentary” on national intellectual culture.
A Scholarly Yet Practical Guide
Reviewing the book, Dr. Samuel Brefo Adubofour, former President of Christian Service University College, praised “Ministry and Leadership in Context” as a “rich resource” for both practitioners and students of Christian ministry.
“Though the book looks small, the ideas are very rich. It’s filled with practical insights, not just theory and offers a matrix for self-evaluation for leaders in ministry.”
Dr. Adubofour emphasized the book’s relevance in Ghana’s pluralistic society, describing it as a guide for Christian leadership in a context of religious and cultural diversity. He lauded its call for tolerance, inclusion and responsible Christian professionalism, even outside formal ministry roles.
“Christians in so-called secular professions are also in ministry. The book expands the concept of ministry and calls for ethical leadership across all sectors,” he added.
Methodist Church to Adopt the Book
The former administrative Bishop of MCG, Rt. Rev. Dr. Michael AgyakwaBossman, who launched the book on behalf of the Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church Ghana, Most Rev. Prof. Johnson Asamoah-Gyedu, expressed the Church’s strong support for the publication.
“Since he became Presiding Bishop, he has realized that Methodist ministers are not reading books written by our own. But this book will be adopted by the Church. It will be one of the most read among probationers,” Bishop Bossman assured.
He noted that Prof. Asante has consistently produced scholarly Christian literature, including titles such as “In Search of Peace and Harmony through Religious Diversity”, “On Being a Disciple Maker”, and “The Call to Serve”.
