Former Chairman of the Church of Pentecost, Apostle Prof. Opoku Onyinah has said the Catholic Church is a pacesetter in the affairs of Christian unity.
According to him, the gesture by the Catholic Church and Pope Francis by way of invitation to ecumenical bodies and other churches to participate in the 6th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops in Rome, demonstrates humility as well as a welcoming and inclusive approach to the synod.
He added that “The synod is an excellent attempt to break down barriers of division and bring Christians together in the Christ-like journey we are taking. The Catholic Church has set a pace for Christian unity; I have learnt a lot from it, and it will be appropriate for other churches to follow the same.”

In an opening remarks at a press conference at the Synod shared on Facebook, Apostle Prof. Opoku Onyinah lauded the openness and transparency of the Synod. He praised the process for offering all participants equal opportunities to share their views, ensuring that introverts and extroverts alike had a voice.
“The synodic process is very open and transparent and offers people equal opportunity to share their views. Often, in meetings, the extroverts take advantage of the introverts. Here, everyone is given equal time to contribute. I also consider this methodology of openness to speak whatever one has publicly as delicate. Delicate in the sense that there is no outside power controlling people of what to say and what not to say. People are free to express whatever they want to express without intimidation,” he said.
The spirituality of the synod also impressed Apostle Prof. Opoku Onyinah. He noted the frequent breaks for silent prayer and discernment, which allow the Holy Spirit to guide the decision-making process. This, he believes, ensures that the decisions reached are influenced not only by the bishops and Pope but also by the Holy Spirit and the people.
“One thing that also captures my attention is the spirituality of the synod; there is frequent intermittent break for silent prayer and discernment. This is a way of allowing the Holy Spirit to take his way in the discerning process and decision-making,” Apostle Prof. Opoku Onyinah further stated.