When The Most Rev. Robert Okine, Archbishop and Primate of West Africa, visited S. Clement's in November, he asked me to plan to visit Koforidua, where he is Diocesan, in February to witness and take part in the Consecration of the Bishop Coadjutor, the Very Rev'd Francis Benjamin Quashie. As many of you know, I was elected Honorary Canon of S. Peter's Cathedral in Koforidua as of 1st January of this year, and was also appointed the Archbishop's Commissary in the USA. As such, I represent the Archbishop and assist him in obtaining funds necessary to further the ministry of the Province and his Diocese.

On my arrival in Ghana, I was very much surprised at the people's degree of poverty. I had served in Namibia in the mid-1960's. There the people had lived humbly in mud or tin huts. It was much the same in parts of Jamaica, Haiti, and Panama where I spent time in later years, but in all of these places the cities were usually much different, at least in a bit better condition.

In Koforidua there were open sewers, lack of hot water, and no sidewalks. People crowded together in their tin huts to sell something to be able to buy food. While the outside of the Cathedral grounds looks rather fine, it too is very lacking inside. The Archbishop has his Diocesan Office at the entrance to his home, which is very poorly equipped. His Provincial Office is in the capital city of Accra, about two hours away.

My surprise at the poverty in which the people of Ghana live soon gave way to being struck by how rich they are in faith. Everywhere I met people who were joyful, kind, and earnest. Their devotion to Our Lord is humbling indeed to those of us who live in such abundance.

On the day of Bishop Quashie's consecration, S. Peter's Cathedral, which seats about 500, needed closed circuit television for the 1500 who had to remain outside on folding chairs. Choirs from throughout the Diocese sang at the Consecration and Bishops from most of the Dioceses in Ghana were Concelebrants. The liturgy was a mixture of the Alternate Service Book (English) and the 1979 American Prayer Book. Everything was done decently and in order. The procession began at 8:30 a.m., and we wended our way through the streets to the Cathedral from a Church maternity home. Finally, the last hymn was sung at about 1:30 p.m.

On Monday, February 17th, the following day, I was installed as Canon of S. Peter's Cathedral during Evensong. This too was a lengthy liturgy. After I had signed the Oath of Conformity to the Doctrine, Discipline, and Worship of the Province of West Africa, the Dean of the Cathedral escorted me to my stall, pushing me down into it three times in the Name of the Holy Trinity. I was then vested in the regalia of the Canons of S. Cyprian of S. Peter's Cathedral. After the liturgy, I was greeted warmly by the members of the cathedral congregation.

Worship in Koforidua was a mix of the new and the familiar. Dancing and drums blended with classic Anglican language. Most places in the Diocese of Koforidua use the English Missal for daily and Sunday Masses and the 1662 Prayer Book for the Daily Offices. Hymns Ancient and Modern is the most common hymnal.

It was wonderful to share their home and to get a deeper understanding of the West African church as I followed the Archbishop in his daily work.

I know that His Grace feels that he has deprived his family of decent living accommodations for many years, but this loving and holy man has worked faithfully in this part of God's vineyard without thought for his own comfort or security. Hopefully, by the end of this year he will be able to retire to a home of his own outside of Accra, where he will have proper guest accommodations and an ample home in a safe neighborhood. Completion of the Provincial Office is also at a standstill due to lack of funds. There are now offices, but no conference rooms or guest quarters. A room designated as a chapel remains empty for lack of proper furnishings. A planned HIV clinic, and medical and dental facilities remain a dream.

In order to complete the Archbishop's own home, the Provincial Office, the HIV clinic, and to provide the bare necessities for the church schools, the assistance of generous friends is necessary. $30,000 - $40,000 is urgently needed by the end of the year to complete Archbishop Okine's house in time for his scheduled retirement. Please consider prayerfully whether you are called to do something to assist Archbishop Okine and this orthodox Anglican Province.

The Archbishop, the new Bishop Coadjutor, the Dean of the Cathedral, Clergy and People all send their prayers and love to their friends at S. Clement's and throughout America.

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