"Buck to Basel and Müller’s Subscript"

This discusses the arrangements to be made over supervision in Akim. There had been much pressure from Praetorius and the other missionaries to run Akim from Begoro, leaving local pastors in the main centres to exercise detailed supervision. In the end Buck prevailed on Praetorius to allow him to decide whether or not to reside in Kibi, and he wishes to do so, partly on the grounds that the Akim congregations are not yet ready to do without a presence in Kibi, partly on the grounds that he is not so sure Begoro is healthier than Kibi. For example, he calculates that 33% of the missionaries resident in Kibi have died (8 out of 24), while the figure for Begoro is 42%, 3 out of 7. Nevertheless he has issued a formal document outlining the geographical responsibilities of the different pastors, and their constitutional position. This will take effect from 1st June. This document is at No 60. It is fairly straightforward, with no mention of pastoral care for villages on the Densu in the Koforidua-Nswmam sector. The rest the document gave wide pourers to the pastors, and they were also specifically enjoined to keep nothing hidden from the missionaries, and to keep them informed over major problems. Müller's subscript refutes Buck over the respective reputations of Kibi and Begoro over health. He also would prefer Begoro to keep, as its district, the outstations at the foot of the hills (Anyinam, Fankyeneko etc.) so that young missionaries stationed there have somewhere in which to gain experience and become independent of detailed guidance.

21.05.1883

21.05.1883

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