Celestial Church of Christ
Celestial Church of Christ | |
---|---|
Emmanuel Mobiyina Oshoffa, Pastor Head, CCC Worldwide (2002–Date) | |
Region | Worldwide |
Headquarters | Porto-Novo Supreme Headquarters: Tchakou Benin International Headquarters: Mission House, Ketu, Lagos, Nigeria Holy City: Celestial City Imeko, Ogun State |
Founder | Samuel Oshoffa |
Origin | 29 September 1947 Porto-Novo, Benin |
Official website | Celestial Church of Christ Worldwide |
The Celestial Church of Christ (CCC) is a Pentecostal church in the Aladura movement, which was founded by Samuel Oshoffa on 29 September 1947 in Porto-Novo, Benin.[1] It has spread from West Africa to countries in Europe, such as Belgium, France, and the United Kingdom,[2][3] but a number of its parishes are located in Nigeria, particularly in Lagos and Ogun State.[3]
History
Oshoffa was a former
The CCC was recognized and authorized by the Republic of Dahomey in 1965. From 1976, the church launched an evangelistic campaign in that country, a former colony of
The movement has continued to grow since Oshoffa's death, but has also suffered setbacks, the most immediate being severe difficulties related to the matter of succession.[7] Oshoffa was succeeded by Alexander Abiodun Adebayo Bada, who was head of the church until his death on 8 September 2000.[8] Bada was briefly followed as leader by Philip Hunsu Ajose, who died in March 2001. A dispute followed over the succession to Ajose. Some declared Gilbert Oluwatosin Jesse as the new leader, while the majority recognised the Reverend Emmanuel Oshoffa, son of Samuel Oshoffa.[9] Following Jesse's death, his faction declared that Superior Evangelist Paul Suru Maforikan was the new spiritual leader of the church.[10] Contrary to the procedure of succession in Nigeria, Porto-Novo, the supreme headquarters, successfully chose Benoit Agbaossi (1931–2010) to be the head of the church, who in his turn appointed Benoit Adeogun as the next Rev. Pastor shortly before his death in 2010.
Beliefs
The CCC is a prophetic one with a Christian background. The faithful are called Celestians, and the church is sometimes informally called “Cele”. The formal name of the church is inspired by a vision, in which Jesus said that Church members adore him as do the angels in heaven,[1] and from Deuteronomy 26:15: "Look down from thy Holy habitation, from heaven, and bless thy people Israel and the land which thou hast given us, as thou didst swear to our father, a land flowing with milk and honey". The church claims inspiration from God through the manifestation of the Holy Spirit among the faithful. Its doctrinal teachings are based on the Bible, and any superstition or animist belief from traditional African religions is excluded,[1] as in other churches in the Aladura movement.
The church is governed by twelve major recommendations, consisting of several prohibitions, including food, common to a number of other monotheistic religions. ceremony or cults, black magic and charms. Only men who are "anointed" are allowed access to the altar.
Services often use candles and perfumes during prayers.[11]
The church uses
Imeko Convocation
Every December, usually, between the 21st and 24th, the church hosts an international event called the Imeko Convocation. It is mandated that every member of CCC attends as a pilgrim. The CCC believes the event attendance is a mandate made by Oshoffa following his declaration that God had chosen Imeko as the New Jerusalem for the fold.[13]
Architecture
The temples of worship always face east. An altar stand has seven candle holders that represent the seven spirits of Jehovah as represented in Revelation 4:5. The church auditorium also has different rows for male and female seats. On days that services are observed during the week, such as the Wednesday and the Friday services, another altar is made which has three, rather than seven, candles.[citation needed]
Demographics and reception
In 2001, it was the second largest church in Benin by the number of its practitioners with nearly half a million followers.[14]
In France, the church is suspected by two anti-cults associations,
Bibliography
- (in French) Pierre Ndjom, Lumière sur l'Eglise du Christianisme Céleste, Paris (France), 2016, 283 p. ISBN 978-2-9557548-0-1
- (in French) Apollinaire Adetonah, Lumière sur le Christianisme Céleste, 1972, 85 p.
- (in French) Christine Henry, Pierre-Joseph Laurent and André Mary, « Du vin nouveau dans de vieilles outres : parcours d'un dissident du Christianisme Céleste (Bénin) », in Social Compass, 2001, vol. 48, no 3, pp. 353–68
- (in French) Christine Henry, La force des anges : rites, hiérarchie et divination dans le Christianisme Céleste, Bénin, Brepols, Turnhout (Belgique), 2008, 280 p. (ISBN 978-2-503-52889-2)
- (in French) Codjo Hébert Johnson, Le syncrétisme religieux dans le golfe du Bénin : le cas du 'Christianisme céleste' , Université Panthéon-Sorbonne, Paris, 1974, 139 p.
- (in French) Joël Noret, « La place des morts dans le christianisme céleste », in Social compass, 2003, vol. 50, no 4, pp. 493–510
- (in French) Laurent Omonto Ayo Gérémy Ogouby, « L'Église du christianisme céleste », in Les religions dans l'espace public au Bénin: vodoun, christianisme, islam, L'Harmattan, Paris, 2008, pp. 46–48 (ISBN 978-2-296-06111-8)
- (in French) R. Saint-Germain, « Les chrétiens célestes, description d'une Église indépendante africaine: Questions d'éthique en sciences des religions », in Religiologiques (Montréal), 1996, vol. 13, pp. 169–94
- (in French) Codjo Sodokin, Les 'syncrétismes' religieux contemporains et la société béninoise: Le cas du christianisme céleste, Université Lumière, Lyon, 1984, 306 p.
- (in French) Albert de Surgy, L'Église du Christianisme Céleste: Un exemple d'Église prophétique au Bénin, Karthala editions, 2001, 332 p. (ISBN 2845861303)
- (in French) Claude Wauthier, « L'Église du christianisme céleste », in Sectes et prophètes d'Afrique noire, Seuil, Paris, 2007, chapter XV, p. 227 and f. (ISBN 9782020621816)
- Afeosemime U. Adogame, Celestial Church of Christ: the politics of cultural identity in a West African prophetic-charismatic movement, P. Lang, Francfort-sur-le-Main, New York, P. Lang, 1999, 251 p.
- (in English) Edith Oshoffa, The Enigmatic spiritual leader of our time S.B.J. Oshoffa: Celestial Church of Christ Beulah Parish, 1st Edition April 2014, Edith Oshoffa, (ISBN 9789789378692)
Filmography
- (in French) Regard sur le christianisme céleste, documentary film produced by Albert de Surgy, CNRS Audiovisuel, Meudon, 1995, 40' (VHS)
References
- ^ a b c d Adetonah, A. (1972). Lumière sur le Christianisme Céleste (in French). p. 85.
- ^ "In pictures: The African Christian congregations of London". BBC News. 31 January 2019. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
- ^ a b "Le Christianisme Céleste en France et en Belgique". Cairn. Retrieved 2 August 2010.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-299-22910-8. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
- ISBN 978-0-19-522042-1.
- ISBN 978-0-299-22464-6.
- ^ "This Day Online". Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 10 June 2007.
- ^ "Celestial signs lighten Bada's burial". The Comet. Celestial Church. 2 October 2000. Archived from the original on 1 October 2011. Retrieved 2011-06-12.
- ThisDay. Archived from the originalon 1 October 2011. Retrieved 12 June 2011.
- ^ BISI ERETAN. "Cele: Maforikan succeeds Jesse". Celestial Church of Christ. Archived from the original on 1 October 2011. Retrieved 12 June 2011.
- ^ a b "Nigeria's Celestial Church of Christ warns against spiritual perfumes". 10 May 2021. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
- ^ Farrell, Cecila (24 August 1991). "Church Rooted in Africa Mixes 'Best of All Religions' Into One; Hyattsville Parish Blends Traditions to Help Cleanse the World". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2 August 2010.
- ^ André, Mary (2002). "Pilgrimage to Imeko (Nigeria): An African Church in the Time of the 'Global Village". Hal Archives Ouvertes.fr. Archived from the original on 22 September 2017.
- ^ De Surgy, Albert (June 2001). L'Église du christianisme céleste un exemple d'Église prophétique au Bénin (in French). Series: Chrétiens en liberté. Paris: Karthala.
- ^ "Le Préfet veut relancer la vigileance contre les dérives sectaires". AFP (in French). 7 January 2005. Retrieved 2 August 2010.
- ^ "Church members jailed after exorcism kills teen". Radio France Internationale. 25 June 2009. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
{{cite journal}}
: Cite journal requires|journal=
(help) - ^ St-J., D. (24 February 2010). "Procès en appel pour les responsables de l'église du Christianisme céleste". France-Guyane (in French). Retrieved 2 August 2010.
External links
- Celestial hymns, artists and reference documents
- website of Celestial Church of Christ, CCC London
- Homepage of Celestial Church USA
- Website of the Official headquarters in Nigeria
- Constitution CCC
- The Spiritual Structural Foundation of CCC
- Scriptural Foundations of the Celestial Church Mode of Worship
- Amazing Facts About Some of Most Inspirational Spiritual Hymns in CCC
- Marburg Journal of Religion article
- Brief mention