The 2022 edition of the annual lecture of the Bishop of the Navrongo-Bolgatanga Catholic Diocese, Alfred Agyenta was held on Saturday July 2, with a focus on listening. This year’s lecture which happens to be the 4th edition of the annual lecture was under the theme; “A synodal church; a listening church” which had the bishop examine if he is listening to the church, whether the church is listening to him and finally if he is listening to the voice of God which is supreme.
His presentation examined the three areas that require him to listen to the church, the church listening to him and him listening to the ultimate, which is God in the dealings of the church.
He pointed out that some of the dangers to a listening church is seeing the church as a democratic institution as he indicates that the church by its nature is a communion of people which seeks to go beyond the dictatorship of the majority but looks at what the most human thing to be done, adding the church is not a democracy because it is governed by Jesus.
Unfortunately, this is threatened by members, who are products of the state and are active participants of a democratic process, which calls for an open debate and, in some cases, voting, which is alien to the practice of the church. Some other dangers, he identified, had to do with populism, where movements want to drive their own agenda.
In the end, the bishop was convinced that he listens to the church following the organization of several activities that offered various groupings the opportunity to share their concerns, that he is being listened to by the church, which is evident in the number of events he is invited to address and that he listens to the supreme God.
However, he concluded his address with a personal confession to recognize the many times he failed to listen to the church and to the voice of God, an act described by many as humbling.
He admonished leaders and individuals to endeavor to listen to others including those outside their fold.
“In general, I can say I’m being listened to, judging by the high expectations that the diocesan family has of their bishop. This is a clear indication that we have made all the efforts to be here because of this lecture. I can see that these high expectations come in different forms, the many invitations and requests I receive to address gatherings, conferences are indications that people want to hear what I have to say.
I confess my failures to listen to others, the lay faithful, the religious men and women, my brother priests and even those outside the catholic fold. For the many times I have failed to make myself available to listen to people. For the times I have listened to people half -heartedly, failing to pay full attention to what is being said, I sincerely ask for forgiveness. I confess that I have failed to listen to the voice of the spirit, having failed to make adequate provision for personal prayer, scripture reading and research. Once again, I sincerely ask the Lord for mercy and pardon”. He prayed.
Addressing the gathering as special guest of honour, Rt. Rev. Denis Tong, Anglican Bishop of Tamale noted that the church exists to serve and must have a listening ear, teach members to have respect for each other and also engage politicians in a fair and firm manner since it cannot look on when it comes to matters of national interest and the governance of the country.
“In responding to the social needs of her members therefore, then I wish to be emphatic though that the church must begin to engage politicians in a fair and firm manner not to be partisan though to endeavor to do the right things. We cannot sit and look. We are a church and we must respond to these issues. We are the voice of the voiceless in the communities in which we find ourselves”. He admonished the church.
