Minutes of the Annual General Meeting Held on Thursday, 3Rd August, 2017 at the Evangel Assemblies of God, Adabraka
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MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING HELD ON THURSDAY, 3RD AUGUST, 2017 AT THE EVANGEL ASSEMBLIES OF GOD, ADABRAKA 1.0 OPENING & DEVOTION The following members of the seven Sub-Committees of the Bible Society of The meeting started at 1:15 p.m and the General Secretary, Rev. Dr. Erasmus Ghana were present: Odonkor welcomed members to the meeting. He invited the President, Dr. Joyce i. Prof. Benjamin Abotchie Ntreh - Translation & Literacy Committee R. Aryee, to say the opening prayer after the Hymn 24 of the Asempa Hymnal ii. Mad. Gladys Odoi - Business Committee (former member of Council) was sung. Before she led the devotion based on Psalm 23, she stood in awe of iii. Mr. Dan Dzunu - Distribution Committee God and gave glory to Him for the gift of life and for bringing us to the third day iv. Mr. Sam Otu-Boateng - Business Committee (former member of Council) of the eighth month of the year. v. Rt. Rev. Emmanuel Maclord Afriyie - Bible Week and Church Relations 1.1 Exhortation Committee (representing the Presiding Bishop, Methodist Church, Ghana) Rev. Dr. Joyce R. Aryee read Psalm 23 from the English Standard Version (ESV) vi. Mr. H.A.C.K. Kpozah - Business Committee and noted two truths presented in the passage as follows: vii. Rev. Reginald M. Barnor- Business Committee 1. The depth of God’s love for His children causes Him to protect, guide and be near each one of His children, just as the good shepherd does 3.2 Other Introductions for his own sheep. God’s highest expression of love and devotion was i. Mr. Sam Okudzeto - Former President of the BSG. shown through the life and death of His Son and our Lord Jesus Christ; ii. Prof. (Mrs) Florence - Former Council member Dolphyne and God continues to exercise His guidance and care over our lives iii. Mr. David Hammond - Former General Secretary through the Holy Spirit. iv. Rev. Fr. R. J. Nyan - Rep. the Accra Bishop, Anglican Church 2. Believers are the Lord’s sheep. They belong to Him and receive His v. Mr. Michael Farkye - Former staff special attention and affection. The Lord has rescued and liberated us vi. Mr. George Ansah - Former Chairman, Business \ Committee from the eternal consequences of our own rebellious way through the vii. Mrs Frances Ademola - Former Trustee of BSG shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ who died for us and our sins. We viii. Rev. Fr. Owuah Osei - Catholic Church now belong to Him and as His sheep, we can respond to His voice and ix. Rev. Fr. John Straathof - “ “ follow Him. x. Rev. Felix Dodor - A.M.E Zion xi. Rev. Charles A. Boakye - Evangel Assembly of God After explaining Psalm 23 verse by verse, Rev. Dr. Joyce Aryee noted that xii. Major Samuel Adjei - Salvation Army although we seemed to be surrounded by so much evil the one assurance is xiii. Mr. Alvin Attayi - O.A.K Chartered Accountants that when we decide to follow our Shepherd, we are assured of everything that is good in our lives and that we will be with Him forever. She shared some After the introductions, the General Secretary welcomed and thanked all compound names of God which were reflected in Psalm 23 as follows: members and representatives of partner Churches for their presence. He also expressed gratitude and appreciation to the Churches, individual donors and • Jehovah Jireh - The Lord will provide (Genesis 22:14) partners of the Society for their continued support, prayers and involvement in • Jehovah Shalom - The Lord is Peace (Judges 6:24) Bible work. He expressed profound appreciation to Rev. Charles Appiah Boakye • Jehovah Rapha - The Lord who Heals (Exodus 15:26) and the leadership of the Evangel Assembly of God for their generosity in hosting • Jehovah Shekina - The Lord our Righteousness (Jer. 33:16) the AGM gratis over the years. • Jehovah Shammah - The Lord is there (Ezekiel 48:35) • Jehovah Nissi - The Lord is my banner (Exodus 17:15) 3.2 APOLOGIES • Jehovah Mekaddishkem - The Lord who sanctifies me(Lev. 20:8) i. Most Rev. Prof. Emmanuel K. Asante In conclusion, she said that in Psalm 23 David’s sheep view of God guides us ii. Rev. Dr. Steve Asante into the most intimate relationship with God that anyone could have; adding that iii. Mr. Joseph N.B. Tetteh as members contemplated on the ‘Shepherd’ Psalm, they should remember that iv. Most Rev. Titus Awotwi Pratt the sheep are also useful to the sheep owner because the sheep provides the v. Rev. L. L. Crabbe hide, meat milk, etc. God is our shepherd but He is taking care of us so that in vi. Mrs Marilyn Owusu turn, our fruitfulness will bring glory to His name. She urged members to be the vii. Ing. Edward & Mrs Josephine Engmann sheep that God had called them to be remembering that the Shepherd will never viii. Mr. Nathaniel Osam fail us and that we will joyfully give the Shepherd that for which He is taking such ix. Mr. Daboni Atta Snr. good care of us. She prayed to end the devotion. x. Mr. Divine Quarshie 1.2 Prayer of Intercession xi. Mr. Addo Bulley xii. Prof. Kissiedu Mr. Percy Ansah led the intercessory prayers for:: 4.0 ADOPTION OF PREVIOUS MINUTES iii. Bible work in Ghana and the world as a whole; and the Bible Village The minutes of the previous Annual General Meeting held on Thursday, 4th Project August, 2016 were taken as read. The following corrections were made: iv. Leadership and all those in authority (Political, Religious, etc) v. Economy of Ghana Page 2 – Item 7.1(ii): The 3rd sentence was corrected to read: The General vi. The leadership of the Bible Society of Ghana (BSG), Membership, Secretary explained that appointment onto Council was by election and Management and staff appealed to all Churches to encourage their members to register as BSG members. 2.0 ATTENDANCE (Please see attendance list on page 4) Page 3 – Item 11.0: The name of Dr. (Mrs) Adelaide Kastner which was omitted 3.0 INTRODUCTIONS was added to the list of members of the reconstituted Council. 3.1 Introduction: Officers and Council Members In the absence of further corrections, the General Secretary moved for the acceptance of the minutes for discussion. The motion was seconded by Lay The following members of the BSG Council were introduced to the meeting: Pastor Emmanuel Quaye. i. Dr. Joyce R. Aryee - President ii. Apostle Peter Okoe Mankralo - 1st Vice President 5.0 MATTERS ARISING iii. Mrs. Efua Ghartey - Chairperson iv. Pr. Dr. Chris Annan Nunoo - Member 5.1 BSG Projects v. Prof. (Mrs) Akosua Anyidoho - “ The General Secretary referred to item 7.1 of the 2015 AGM minutes where a vi. Mrs Gloria Lamptey - “ member suggested that details of the BSG projects should be made available to vii. Rev. Dr. B.Y. Quarshie - “ members. He informed the meeting that some details about each of the projects viii. Mr. Percy Ansah - “ the BSG was running was available in the 2016 annual report and therefore the ix. Dr. (Mrs) Adelaide Kastner - “ matter had been taken care of. BSG - MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2017 01 5.2 The Bible Village Project, Kitase that the report was signed off once the audit was completed and that the errors The matter was covered in the General Secretary’s 2016 annual report. could have occurred at the printing stage. The General Secretary explained further that once the report was signed off, a soft copy was dispatched for printing. He 6.0 PRESENTATION OF 2016 ANNUAL REPORT assured members that the corrected figures were the same as what was in the Before presenting his report, the General Secretary acknowledged the steadfast hard copies of the original report and therefore there was the need to find out what love and faithfulness of God in the Society’s operations in 2016. He added that exactly happened and, if possible, inform members at the next AGM. He also almost all the targets set by the National Council were achieved. He expressed acknowledged the late delivery of the printed AGM brochures. gratitude to Council and Committee members for their support; and also In the absence of further comments or concerns, the General Secretary moved for acknowledged the hard work of members of staff. the adoption of the report subject to the corrections which had been made. Rt. He reported on the following thematic areas: Rev. Emmanuel Maclord Afriyie seconded the motion. There were no objections to • Governance the motion for adoption and the meeting unanimously adopted the Auditor’s report • Management and Staff matters subject to the corrections. • Church Relations 8.0 RE-APPOINTMENT OF AUDITORS • Bible Engagement Projects Miss Gladys Odoi, a member of the BSG Business Committee and on behalf of the • Translation and Literacy Chairman of the Committee, moved for the re-appointment of O.A.K. Chartered • Bible Distribution Accountants as Auditors of the Society for the 2017 financial year. The motion • Resource Mobilization was seconded by Rev. Felix E. K. Dodor. • Finance • The Bible Village (Kitase Retreat Centre) 9.0 THE BIBLE VILLAGE PROJECT • West Africa and Africa Affinity Groups The General Secretary reminded members of the decision which was taken at the • 2022 UBS World Assembly in Ghana 2016 AGM to support the rapid completion of the project at Kitase. The decision • Members Called to Eternity in 2016 was that every registered member of the Bible Society of Ghana would make a donation of at least GH¢100.00 within one year from the last AGM in addition to After the presentation of the report, Rev.