Most Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Asante

– Chairman of the Christian Council of Ghana
Most Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Asante is the 42nd Chairman of the Christian Council of Ghana since its formation in 1929. He is currently the Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church Ghana. He was born on Wednesday, 12th of April, 1950.

Emmanuel completed his elementary education at the Ejura Local Authority Anglican Middle School in 1965.

From 1966 - 67 he had a stint of secondary education at the Salem Secondary School at Osu in Accra. His secondary education was terminated due to financial difficulties. This initial setback in the early formation of his life, however, did not deter him. Emmanuel studied privately to upgrade himself.

In 1974 Emmanuel, having engaged in evangelism as a free-lance evangelist reaching out to people with the gospel in schools and villages, gained admission to pursue theological studies at the newly established Christian Service College (now Christian Service University College). In 1977 Emmanuel graduated with a Diploma in Biblical Studies from the College. He furthered his theological Education at the London Bible College (now London School of Theology) in the United Kingdom in 1979 graduating from the College with a Cambridge Certificate in Religious Studies and a College Diploma. To strengthen his academic qualifications he pursued ‘A’ level studies in Sociology and Government at the North London Tuition Centre whiles working to raise funds for further studies. Emmanuel’s insatiable thirst for theological education led him to the Federated Universities of Saint Paul and Ottawa in Canada where he pursued studies in Philosophy and Theology from 1980-1986.

Emmanuel has two Bachelors of Theology (Civil and Ecclesiastic), Master of Arts in Theology and Doctor of Philosophy degrees from the Federated Institutions of Saint Paul and Ottawa Universities.

Received into full Connexion and Ordained in 1986 on the recommendation of the Emmanuel United Church in Ottawa where he did his pastoral internship, Emmanuel has served the Methodist Church, Ghana in various capacities as a Circuit Minister, Ayigya 1986-1987, Kumasi Circuit, 1987-1994 as Superintendent Minister for six years. From1989-1994 he was the Synod Secretary of the Kumasi Diocese, then Kumasi District. From 1994-1998 he served the Trinity Theological Seminary as Lecturer, Vice-Principal, and Academic Dean and as President from 1999-2006. During this period he served concurrently as Director, Theological Education by extension, 1994-2006, General Director, Board of Ministries, 1999-2004, Chairman, Ordained Ministry Division of the Board of Ministries, Director, Tertiary Education Division of the Board of Education and Youth and Member Advisory Board of the Youth Division of the Methodist Church Ghana. Emmanuel has also served as the Bishop of the Kumasi Diocese of the Methodist Church from 2008-2009.

The Most Rev Asante has served in various capacities in a number of Ecumenical bodies as a theological consultant for the Fellowship of Christian Councils and Churches in West Africa since 1996, Chairman, Advisory Committee, Church and Society Division, Christian Council of Ghana 1996-1999, member Advisory Committee on Finance and Development, Christian Council of Ghana, 1999-2000, Member Executive Committee, Christian Council of Ghana, 1999-2006, the Methodist Chaplain of the Accra Ridge Church, 1994-1998 and the Senior Minister, Trinity United Church, 1999-2006.

The Most Rev Asante served as a member of the Judicial Council of Ghana from 2002-2009 and as a member of the Ejura-Sekodumasi District Assembly, 2006-2009.

On the academic front, Most Revd Asante served as Adjunct Lecturer, Christian Service University College, 1987-1994, Chairman of Council, Christian Service College, 1992-1994, Senior Lecturer and Associate Professor, Trinity Theological Seminary, 1994-2006, Head of Department of Religious Studies Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, 2006-2009. He has also served as an External Examiner in Religious Studies in a number of Tertiary Institutions in the country and as a Consultant on Religious Studies, National Accreditation Board. He has a number of publications to his credit.

The Most Rev Asante is a family man. He is married to Comfort and they are blessed with three adult sons, Emmanuel, Paul and Jerry and two beautiful granddaughters and two grandsons.

The Most Rev Asante believe that a person’s worth is defined and informed by the immeasurable grace of God. He believes that God lifted him “out of the slimy pot, out of the mud and mire and set his feet on a rock and gave him a place to stand.” In God, the ‘Nobody becomes a ‘Somebody.’ (Ps. 40: 2-3).