Your Grace,
I bring you peace and goodness from the hearts of your lay faithful in Ga Land. I have tried time without number to write to you since our beloved nation got embroiled in this rather need-to-have debate over the Lord’s House.
Many responded to the responsibilities of their citizenship rather seriously by getting involved in what I say is shaping the decision. But my hesitation largely has been over known fears: fears for my life, fears for my faith, and fears for the integrity of my calling. We live in times where those of us our Lord called into the inky fraternity are unfortunately the most gagged.
One cannot freely and openly express his view, no matter independent it may seem, without being tagged with a political party. But that may be a subject for another day.
In this case, I was also hesitant for fear that my genuine quest for answers may be misconstrued either by the larger Christian Community in the country (Church United), or our Holy Mother Church in Ghana (Local Church), as fundamentally questioning our faith; it’s value, it’s responsibilities and maybe my dedication and commitment to the Church.
After much consultations with my catechist, however, and with deeper reflections on the goals of the epistle, I am mastering the courage to put pen to paper on my concerns. Lest I forget, I must tell you that the catechist is doing a fantastic job tendering the Local Church.
He’s done so well nurturing a lot more young people too for the vocations with many choosing the priesthood. The figures have gone up by 45%, the last time I checked.
Also, through his instrumentality, basic and vocational education, and primary health care have improved significantly. We have reached a point where the State must come in and ensure that universality is achieved in all sectors.
But, as irony will have it, the State now says it wants to rather concentrate on building the Lord a House.
Well, my only prayer is that you recommend my catechist for Papal Blessing for the good he’s doing not just for the Local Church but the community at large.
Now to the vexed issue of building for the Lord a sanctuary. The debates have gone on for a couple of weeks now without any clear national consensus in sight.
Your Grace, as you may have read from, or heard in the media, the discussions on this project are becoming so heated that many fear they may result in inter-religious conflict.
People who should otherwise be responsible are making utterances which endanger the commendable peace the Church United has enjoyed with the Muslim community all these years.
While others are arguing against the need and relevance of the project, some are simply questioning the wisdom behind pulling down critical national assets to build a House for the Lord.
At a very personal level, I questioned both; the need/relevance, and the wisdom of it. But I want to put my biases aside and approach the discussion with a tabula rasa so I can fully understand what is going on.
More so, because, I have already heard from leaders of some sections of the Church United, and with all due respect to their ordination they sound like government pipers. My sincere apologies.
Your Grace, you are my Pastor, my Shepherd. And I, in fact, the Local Church, trust in your guidance. Not once have we had cause to doubt your leadership in your decades of Ministry.
Please help us understand how we got here. Below are ten questions that I put together after interacting with a wide range of Parishioners and some of the Parish Youth Council (PYC) members after one of our meetings last week.
It is also my understanding that the Parish Pastoral Council (PPC) discussed issues around this national project at its meeting last week.
This only shows how curious the Local Church is about the National Cathedral and the closure your timely response to these ten questions will bring.
1. Who mooted the idea of a National Cathedral; was it from the Church United to the State or vice versa? Did the Local Church have any role in the initial decisions?
2. What is the official position of the Local Church on this debate? (I am minded that Your Grace has so far appeared at all the important State ceremonies on this matter)
3. At what level was the internal discussions/consultations (If any) that eventually bound the local Church to the decision? (If at all the Church is bound)
4. How useful will this Cathedral be to both the Local Church and the Church United?
5. A Cathedral both by definition and character is headed by a Bishop. Who will be Bishop over this National Cathedral? Appointed by Who? Based on what criteria? Clothed with what particular mandate and authority? How and at what level will the State be involved in this appointment?
6. How much is the total project cost? How much is the Church United raising locally? From which local sources?
Beyond the controversial land, how else is the State supporting this project?
Is there a projected foreign sponsorship for the project? How much? From where?
I am minded that the State has insisted at every stage of the debate that funding and supervision for the project are squarely on the shoulders of the Church United.
7. The State talks about the tourism potential of the project, good. I’m not even going to talk about the numerous untapped tourism potentials we’re overstepping to invest in this project; including the old Parliament House, the House in Lawra where Kwame Nkrumah was caged away after the famous positive action, or even the prisons and cells downtown where he and the others were locked up.
I am merely asking; will the Church also be involved in this tourism business and how? Will it be a State-Church partnership, or a State-Private Business Partnership, or a Church-private Business Partnership, or a State-Church-private Business Partnership? Or better still the Church United will build and the State will just take over management as a National asset.
I have heard some compare this project to some notable Cathedrals to argue it’s needed. Forgive me Your Grace, but are those Cathedrals not of historic symbolism?
Have they not stood the painful test of history, time and identity? Do they not hold for their peoples the bitter or glorious memories that bind them together and the hopes and aspirations of their young ones? How can we ever make such comparisons?
8. Again, among the uses of the facility, the State says, will be the coronation/installation/investiture/swearing in (whichever one is politically correct) of our Presidents. Will the Local Church or the Church United, play any roles in these ceremonies since it will be held n their sacred grounds?
9. How relevant is a National Cathedral to Ghana’s being? Better put: beyond the Church’s quest to evangelize, does Ghana really need a National Cathedral?
10. Is this really what our God wants? For a people to invest in a House for HIM when
a. the country is submerged in so much filth that waste becomes the single most lucrative business?
b. the least rain brings floods, death and displacement?
c. at least 334 basic schools (at least 39000 students) in one region alone (Upper East) as recent as April this year, still study under trees?
d. at least 67% of the road network is unmotorable effectively cutting off the predominantly rural population from that Cathedral.
Your Grace, of all our daily challenges, God Most High wants our Government to prioritize a National Cathedral Project? I know our ways are not HIS ways and the human mind may not fathom instructions but, will HE definitely prioritize a construction of his House over the basic needs of his peopl? Remember the conversation HE had with King David over building a Temple?
Your Grace, I am in gratitude for your anticipated response. It will, as I have already said, help we the faithful understand the thinking behind the project and to give it as much support as you would have us.
On my part, Your Grace’s answers will give me a clearer understanding of the issues so I can seek further answers from the State in fulfillment of my calling as a seeker of truth. You know that as a member of the inky fraternity, my job is to let the citizenry know the whole story and in truth. I take this duty seriously for there can be no higher calling.
Till I hear from you, Your Grace, may the rod of our Lord and Master Jesus Christ continue to guide your Ministry. God bless and keep you. And may HIS countenance shine upon you, now and all the days of your life.
God bless our homeland Ghana,
And make our nation great and strong.
I remain,
Sixtus Dong Ullo
Follow @sixtus_gh