ACC urges BCSL pastors to preach anti corruption sermons
The Baptist Convention of Sierra Leone (B.C.S.L) has completed its annual pastors and wives retreat, starting Tuesday 17th to Friday 20th July 2012. This event which was hosted at the Baptist Conference Centre at Lunsar brought together eighty two (82) pastors and their wives from each of the regions in the country. (Photo: David Kanekey Conteh, Public Education Officer, ACC)
It was in this retreat that Mr. David Kanekey Conteh, Public Education Officer of the Anti-Corruption Commission urged ministers of God’s word to incorporate Anti-Corruption messages in their sermons to their respective congregations.
Speaking on the topic: “The Church and the Fight against Corruption”, Mr. Conteh said, like the prophets of old, pastors of our generation should fearlessly speak out against corruption as they are expected to be the mouth piece for the voiceless, the down trodden and the people who do not have the opportunity to speak out against certain ills in the society. He reminded them that Jesus Christ spoke against injustice and corruption. To restore these forgotten morals and values such as justice and forthrightness was the very reason why Jesus himself came to this perverse generation.
Mr. Conteh further said; we are living in a generation were selfishness is the order of the day. People want all for themselves and nothing for others. Corruption has caused serious devastation to this country. In a situation where corruption is not checked, the poor and the rich, the Christians and the non-Christians suffer, even though the poor are likely to suffer the most. Corruption leads to inequality in society, poor service delivery, underdevelopment and poverty.
Quoting Ezekiel 3:16-21, Mr. Conteh likened the pastor’s office to that of the “watchman” who is responsible to sound the alarm on pending disaster. Since the members of the congregation listen more to the pastor, as an oracle from God, pastors should therefore use that God given authority to preach the undiluted word of God and advice their members against corruption. To help the pastors do that effectively, ACC Public Education Officer spoke about the operations of the Commission, its mandate, core values; mission and vision statements.
He used biblical examples to explain the offences in the 2008 AC Act. The actions of Achan and Zacchaeus in the Bible, he referred to as Corrupt Acquisition of Wealth and Soliciting or Accepting Advantage. While the story about David and Uriah, he referred to as Abuse of Position. The incident of Gehazi, Ananias and Sapphira could be seen as Deceiving a Principal.
In their statements, at the end of the presentation, the General Secretary of BCSL- Rev. Mohamed Saidu Mansaray, the President- Rev. Orlando Bangs and participants appreciated the ACC for such education that has stimulated them to positive action in the fight against graft in this country. They promised to teach and preach against corruption to their congregations, as it is biblical right.
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