The new Archdeacon of Accra West Archdeaconry, Venerable John Antonio Tello Nelson has called on the members of the Anglican community to bind themselves together in order to put the church on a higher pedestal.
He said Christians must work together to accomplish the mission that we have been called to and this can be achieved through prayers.
Venerable Tello Nelson was speaking after his installation by the Bishop of Accra, the Rt. Rev’d. Dr Daniel S. M. Torto as the fifth Archdeacon of the Accra West Archdeaconry at St Mary the Virgin Anglican church in Accra.
The Chancellor of the Accra Diocese, Her Lordship Sophia Bernesko-Essah, administered the Deed of Appointment and the Oath of Administration.
Venerable Antonio Nelson said God’s love is unconditional and that coming together in love we can increase our capacity to move the church forward adding that “When the church is one we would achieve more”.
Priesthood
Ven. Tello Nelson entered the ministry as a Catechist in 1983 and was assigned to various churches between 1983 and 1991.
In October 1994 he was ordained into the Diaconate and fully ordained as a Priest in December 1995 and installed as a Canon in June 2011.
A product of Accra Polytechnic with an ICA intermediary, Ven. Tello Nelson obtained his Licentiate in Theology from St Nicholas Theological Seminary, Cape Coast in 1994 and gained his Bachelor of Divinity from the Trinity Theological Seminary, Legon in 2004.
Ven. Tello Nelson in 2013 was awarded his Master in Theology from the Trinity Theological Seminary, Legon. His pastoral duties over the years included Chaplain at United Church, Teshie-Nungua from 1995 to 1996, Trinity and St Philip Cathedral, Newark, New Jersey United States from 1996 to 1997,
Between 1998 and 2002 Ven. Tello Nelson was the first Anglican Chaplain for the Tema Joint Church and made the first Parish Priest for Christ the King Anglican Church Sakumono in 2002.
Ven. Tello Nelson also served as Parish Priest at St Paul, La, between 2008 and 2013 Coordinating and Anglican Chaplain, Accra Ridge Church from 2013 to 2017 and St Anthony of Padua Anglican Church from 2017 to 2019.
Some of the numerous appointments Ven. Tello Nelson has taken included Coordinator, Diocesan Ministerial Training School at Tema, 1998-2000, between August to September 2000, Chaplain, Seafarers Centre, Newark, New Jersey, United States, August –September 2001, Chaplain Baltimore Seafarers Centre, United States, Bishop Nomination Committee, Chaplain, Anglican Students, Labone Secondary School and Member of the Diocesan Liturgical Committee.
In June 22, 2017, Venerable Tello Nelson received the Recon Community Award at the House of Commons, UK for service to Seafarers and Industrial Missions.
Former Archdeacons
Venerable Jehoshaphat Ocquaye was the first Archdeacon of Accra West and was followed by Very Rev’d. Jonathan Annan Sackey.
Venerable Edmund Mensah Tetteh took over the leadership of Accra West as the third Archdeacon with Venerable Samuel Hansen-Addy as the forth Archdeacon.
