Every religious organization with an administrative system inevitably faces human management challenges. Celestial Church of Christ being one of Nigeria’s prominent churches has found itself entangled in legal battles seeking interpretation and resolution of established laws. However, it is condemnable that the Church authorities have failed consistently to acknowledged their shortcomings and embraced the genuine purpose of reconciliation.
Previously, Christ Apostolic Church and the Assemblies of God have also encountered leadership disputes that led them to seek legal intervention. Nevertheless, these religious organizations were able to engage in fruitful negotiations, ultimately resulting in the establishment of improved church structures.
Presently, the leadership of Reverend Emmanuel Mobiyina Oshoffa is confronted with numerous instances of administrative mismanagement. Unfortunately, many of these issues appear to be at a standstill due to the indifferent attitude of the Pastor’s subordinates. These individuals have taken advantage of the weakened system to amass personal wealth and occupy influential positions, while the head of the church has failed to address these concerns effectively.
It Is an undeniable fact that the Pastor is well-informed about the ongoing issues concerning the Church, thanks to a series of meetings. However, it is important to note that the Pastor’s health challenges should not serve as an excuse for the poor management of a church that has been in existence for over 70 years. We can draw inspiration from the examples of Late Baba Obadare, who faced similar health issues as a Pastor of his faction under the Christ Apostolic Church and Late Baba Akande in Ede, Osun State. Despite their health challenges, these men of God were able to effectively lead their churches out of crisis loom.
It Is worth mentioning that the office of the Pastor has already released payment/fee for the year 2023 ANOINTMENT in December 2023, even though the Pastor’s seat remains unbalanced. Furthermore, the Pastor is currently entangled in more than three court cases in Lagos and Oyo State, challenging the authority of Rev Emmanuel Mobiyina Oshoffa to continue as the Church Head. These legal battles also include the unlawful decision to dissolve a registered Board of Trustees under Nigerian law.
Despite the numerous challenges of mismanagement, gross misconduct and ongoing court cases that weigh heavily on the Pastor’s shoulders, it is disheartening to observe that the Ketu authority still prioritizes the ANOINTMENT. One cannot help but wonder if this focus on ANOINTMENT is driven by personal gain, while the authority of the Pastor continues to weaken.
There needs to be a proper arrangement in place to address the divided bus that Rev Emmanuel Mobiyina Oshoffa is driving. The Ketu authority may argue that just because of cases is in court, it does not mean that the church administration should stop functioning. However, if this is the stance of the Ketu authority, then the Pastor should be prepared for a sudden exodus.
In a viral video released on the official Facebook page of CCC National Headquarters Parish, Makoko, Yaba, Lagos, one of the senior daughters of the Pastor Founder, Prophetess Edith Oshoffa stated that the Founder has given standing instructions that when the Church has 3 to 4 Pastors, members should abort any anointment exercise. It is unfortunate that we not only have issues of factionalization, but also a lack of proper administrative system with a nonchalant attitude towards addressing the situation.
It is Imperative that we urgently advocate for the Pastor to genuinely address these issues. The focus should not solely be on anointment, but rather on rescuing the sinking administration of the Church.
