Anglican Church embarks on rebranding exercise

The Anglican Church, the first Christian mission to be planted in Ghana, has embarked on a rebranding exercise to save it from losing its face in the country. Right Reverend Dr Daniel Sylvanus Mensah Torto, Bishop of Accra Anglican Diocese, who made this known in an interview with Ghana News Agency in Accra, on Thursday, said the rebranding efforts are meant to revive the mission to be alive to the Commission that Christ gave the Church. He said it was in this light that the church is organising a three-day crusade in Accra with Dr Lawrence Tetteh, President and Founder of UK- based World Miracle Outreach at the Black Star Square in Accra on the theme: �Only Jesus Can Save.� The event spans May 15-May 17 and will be crowned with a thanksgiving service on Sunday, May 19. Bishop Torto said the church has five solid pillars that will underpin �our vision to build Anglican Diocese of Accra�. These are: �Equipping and empowering church agents-Clergy to deliver excellence; deepening spirituality; growth based on integrity and discipline; financial sustainability, and social impact.� The church engage in television and radio broadcast and actively involve members on the internet and other social media and equip them to live and express their faith within their communities. The vision seeks to strengthen the existing churches, 86 of them in Accra and plant new ones in the Dangbe East and Dangbe West Districts, Ga North District and especially in the new developing communities like Tse-Ado. The church extends chaplaincy services to Ghana Police Service, Ghana National Fire Service, Customs Division of Ghana Revenue Authority and educational institutions. �Our vision requires growing inter-dependent relationship with other denominations in Ghana and other dioceses within the Anglican Communion,� Bishop Torto said. The crusade will serve as a platform for Christians to offer prayers for the nation to help avert any political upheavals following the ongoing petition at the Supreme Court. The opening ceremony is expected to be graced by Mrs Georgina Theodora Wood, the Chief Justice. President John Dramani Mahama and his wife; Lordina, will be the special guest of honour at the crusade. Other invited guests are Dr Richard Roberts, President of the Oral Roberts Ministries at Oklahoma- USA, Dr Stephen Mwiluki, a UK-based Kenya Pastor, Mr Richard Shakarian, International Head of the Full Gospel Businessmen's Fellowship, and Reverend Paul Naughton, Chairman of Benny Hinn Ministries in the UK. Bishop Torto was born on November 9, 1958 and had his basic education at Ghana National School Accra, now Richard Akwei Memorial School. He had his secondary education at St Thomas Aquinas Secondary School from 1972-1978. In 1981 he was admitted to Trinity College now Trinity Theological Seminary and completed his basic theological training in June 1984. Bishop Torto was ordained as Deacon on Sunday, July 24, 1983 at the Cathedral Church of the Most Holy Trinity and ordained as Priest on August 12, 1984 at St Andrew Anglican Church, Abossey- Okai, Accra. In September 1986 he gained admission to the University of Ghana to pursue an undergraduate programme. He completed the programme in July 1989 and was awarded Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Psychology and Religion. In 1992, Bishop Torto gained a full scholarship to the Episcopal Divinity School, Cambridge Massachusetts to undertake a Master�s Programme in Pastoral Theology with General Competence in Medical Ethics. He gained admission to Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration in May 2004, to pursue a course in Certificate in Business Administration. January 2007, he enrolled at the Vision International University, Canada, California for a Doctor of Ministry Programme and in July 2009, he was awarded Doctor of Ministry. He is married to Gladys Naa Aku Torto, a product of Institute of Home Economics in Accra and they have four children. Caption: Picture of Right Reverend Dr Daniel Sylvanus Mensah Torto, Bishop of Accra Anglican Diocese