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Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Constitution of Celestial Church of Christ (Nigeria Diocese), drafted from 29 February 1976 to 29 February 1980 and promulgated on 29 March 1980. Web copy reproduced from the Celestial Church of Christ, Promise of God Parish, Brussels (source). This is not an official publication; for the authoritative text, consult the Church’s headquarters.
The Church Under the Absolute Dictate of the Holy Spirit
91. It is hereby emphasised for note that:
(a) the name of the Church,
a.the tenets and mode of worship of the Church, and
b.the service hymns of the Church are all revealed through the Holy Spirit as promised by our Lord Jesus Christ (see John 14:25,26) thus: "These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you".
Name of the Church
92. The name of the Church, 'Eglise du Christianisme Celeste',
'Celestial Church of Christ' in English, and 'Ijo Mimo ti Kristi lati orun wa’ in Yoruba was revealed by the Holy Spirit as stated earlier in clause 3, page 3.
Tenets and Mode of Worship
Tenets
93. It is ordained by the Holy Spirit that:
(1) members of Celestial Church of Christ are forbidden to engage or participate in any form of idolatory, fetish ceremony or cults, black magic and charms;
(2) cigarette or tobacco smoking or snuffing or any type of weed smoking or snuffing is forbidden to members of the Celestial Church of Christ;
(3) consumption of any form of alcohol, wine or any strong drink that can intoxicate is forbidden to members of Celestial Church of Christ as the odour of all these – cigarettes, tobacco, alcohol, etc. – are repugnant to the presence of the Holy Spirit;
(4) consumption of pork or any food offered as sacrifice to idols or other powers of darkness is forbidden to members of Celestial Church of Christ;
(5) members are forbidden to wear apparels made of black or red materials except for professional reasons;
(6) members should not wear shoes when wearing their sutana or within the premises of the Church;
(7) male and female members are forbidden to sit together side by side within the Church and its premises;
(8) female members during menstruation are not allowed to come within the precincts of the Church until after their sanctification after seven clear days; and where the menstruation extends beyond seven days, two clear days should be allowed for after stoppage before sanctification;
(9) female members are forbidden from entering the altar area or leading the congregation in worship;
(1 0) in Celestial Church of Christ, only white candles are to be used. Coloured candles are strictly forbidden;
(1 1) fornication and adultery are forbidden in the Celestial Church of Christ;
(12) Holy is the Celestial Church of Christ and all who worship in her should endeavour to be clean in body and in soul..
Mode of Worship
94. All forms of worship in the Celestial Church of Christ are entirely as revealed by the Holy Spirit. This includes the setting of the altar, and the seats therein, the number of candles used for the various types of services and the seating arrangement. In particular, it should be noted that the seating arrangement was revealed through a prophetess who under the influence of the Holy Spirit in the wilderness on Friday 5th October 1947, sketched the seating arrangement using oranges.
Order of Service
95. There is an Order of Service laid down in the Celestial Church of Christ for different occasions such as Marriage, Funeral, Mass in remembrance of the Dead, etc. The order for the respective occasion is strictly as revealed by the Holy Spirit and is set out in the booklet titled "Order of Service" obtained from the Supreme Headquarters in Porto Novo, the Nigeria Diocesan Headquarters, Makoko, Lagos and indeed from many parishes all over the country.
96. The Order of Service, as revealed, contains certain Holy Names which usually precede reading from the books of Psalms. The meaning of some of these Holy Names are given as follows:-
Eh-Yibah Oluwa Alanu
Eli-Yah Oluwa Olorun
Eli – Bamah – Yabah Oluwa -Omo Emi – Michael
Agashadual Qba Olusegun
Jehovah Jecho – Hirami Oba Olubukun
Announcement and Sermon
97. Announcement during Devotional Services shall be made by the Parish Secretary and shall be designed to bring to the notice of the congregation items of interest to the Church, forthcoming Church programmes, guidelines for the adherence to the Tenets of the Church and such items of announcement as may from time to time be ordered by the Pastor or from the Diocesan Headquarters.
98. Sermon during Worship shall be delivered by any Church elder so appointed by the Pastor's Representative at the Parish for the occasion. The elder so appointed shall strictly observe the following guidelines.-
(a) The sermon shall be taken from the Bible texts appointed to be read for the day. Strict adherence to the text shall always be an overriding principle.
(b) Reference to Newspaper Publications, to items of political nature or items that have connection with Government Policy or items that may be construed as antagonising or derogatory to other religious organisations is forbidden.
Holy Rites Or Sacraments
99. There are a number of Holy Rites or Sacraments within the form of worship in Celestial Church of Christ which are of utmost importance. Members shall avail themselves of the opportunity to partake in these Rites or Sacraments:-
(a) BAPTISM
This is by immersion. Before being accepted as a member of the Church one must be baptised or re-baptised into the faith of Celestial Church of Christ. Reference is made to Acts 19:1-6.
(b) HOLY COMMUNION
The important rite of the Holy Communion is generally held Quarterly as well as on Holy Thursday (Pre-Easter), and on Christmas Day at the Porto Novo Beach. It may also be held on other special occasions such as Marriage, Funeral, Mass in remembrance of Departed Souls etc.
(c) ANNUAL WASHING OF FEET
This is held on the Thursday of the Holy Week (Passion Week). It is in commemoration of the event when Jesus Christ washed the feet of His disciples during the last supper. For this purpose, it has been laid down that representatives of each parish shall congregate at the Diocesan Headquarters, Makoko on Saturday preceding the Palm Sunday. After a short service the representatives would return to their
respective parishes on Sunday (i.e. the Palm Sunday) and would perform the washing of feet to members of their respective parishes on the following Thursday-John 13:5-9
(d) ANNUAL CONVOCATION AT PORTO NOVO CHRISTMAS EVE
It is ordained by the Holy Spirit that all members of the Celestial Church of Christ, wherever they may be, shall convocate for Christmas at the sea side in Porto-Novo, Republic of Benin. This is in remembrance of the birth of Christ during the census decreed by Caesar Augustus – Luke 2: 1.
(e) ANNUAL EASTER CONGREGATION AT MAKOKO This is a Congregation of all members of Celestial Church of Christ Nigeria Diocese at Makoko from the morning/ afternoon of Good Friday_ until Easter Sunday. Three services are held in Celestial Church of Christ on Good Friday to celebrate the anniversary of the arrest, trial, conviction, crucifixion and burial of our Lord Jesus Christ. These are at 9.00 a.m., 12.00 noon and 3.00 P.m. local time. Representatives of each parish in the Diocese are enjoined to attend the 3.00 p.m. service at Makoko and thereafter partake of the feast of fruits and water at about 5.30 p.m. The day's celebrations will be considered over thereafter as from about 6.00 p.m.
The following day, Saturday, in the evening, there will be a procession to the Cemetery for a devotional service there at twelve midnight.
Then on Easter Sunday morning, there will be a full devotional service of joy and victory in the Church.
f.ANNUAL HARVEST THANKSGIVING SERVICE
It is also laid down that each Parish of the Celestial Church of Christ shall annually observe the Harvest by holding Harvest Thanksgiving. Service followed by Harvest Sales. This will be celebrated in two parts – Juvenile and Adult. The Juvenile Harvest will be celebrated by all parishes on the first Sunday in June each year, while for the Adult Harvest, parishes shall inform and agree their respective dates with the Diocesan Headquarters in Lagos, always provided that no parish shall hold its Harvest Thanksgiving Service on the Ist Sunday in October, which is the date fixed for the Supreme Headquarters in Porto-Novo or Ist Sunday in August, which is the day set aside for the Diocesan Headquarters, Makoko in Lagos.
(g) HOLY MARY'S DAY
This is in commemoration of the appearance of Holy Mary to the Pastor on the 15th day of July 1977.
The significance of Holy Mary to the Celestial faith can be traced to the earliest days of the Celestial Church of Christ; for the very first spiritual hymn that was given to the Church through one of the early prophetesses of the Church (WOLISATA) was the hymn which reads thus
(Hymn No. 762 CCC Hymn Book):
"Enyin ara 'nu Krist (1: s: s: m: 1: s: –
E gbe orin soke d:m-s:-f:m:r:-:-
K' e si gbo ohun ti d:s:-m:l:s:-d:
Jehovah nso m:s:-f:m:r:-.-
Ere di re te fi wa s:d:d:t:l:s:s
Ninu Ijo Mimo yi? iii:m:f:m:r:f:m:-:-
Ere di re t'e fi wa s:d:d:t:l:s:s:
Ninu egbe nla yi? m:m:f:m:r:f:m:-:-
Ki Maria iya wa s:d:d:t:l:s:-
Le e wa sin wa lo M:s:f:m:r:f:m:-:-
K'Eni Mimo rere yi s:d:-t:l:s:-m:s:
Wa ma sin wa lo'.' f:til:r:r:d:-:-
Significantly, thirty years later, on 15th day of July 1977, the Pastor, in a trance, saw himself climbing a number of steps until he got to a plane full of fallen leaves and sighted a fair white lady clad from top to toe in blue apparel and standing in a posture as if shielding something away from him.
Then the Pastor found himself descending steps until he sighted a Church from which a Reverend Father emerged and bowed in homage to him repeatedly. Then the Pastor found himself ascending again back to the spot where he earlier saw tile fair lady. This time, the fair lady opened up to show that what she was shielding away earlier was a baby having a crown on His head and she said, pointing to the baby:
"Jesu yi,
Emi Mimo ni,
Okan mimo ni,
Oba iye ni,
Eni ba fe sin gbodo tona to mo rekete"
meaning in English
"This is Jesus Christ,
He is Holy in Spirit,
He is Holy in Mind,
He is Life everlasting.
Tell people that those who would worship Him must
tread the path of spiritual cleanliness".
At this juncture, the Pastor realised that the fair lady was Holy Mary. She repeated the injunction in song thus:
"Jesu, Emi , mimo ni, d:-s:-:-:-d: iii:rn:m:r:-:-:-
Okan Mimo ni, r:d:m:M:r:-:-:-
Oba iye ni, r:r:d:d:r:-;-:-
Eni ba fe sin Jesu a m:s:s:s:r:ni:d:d:s:
tona to mo rekete". s:r:r:d:d:d:-:-:
Continuing, she told the Pastor that he should remain undaunted by the colour of his skin because race is of no significance in things of the Spirit. She added:
"Okan mimo re la nwo ti a fi ngbe inu re."
meaning: "It is because of your clean mind that we dwell in you".
Almost exactly a year after the incident described above, the Pastor fell ill during which it was spiritually revealed (also in trance) that due recognition shall be accorded to Holy Mary in the Celestial Church of Christ by commemorating the above incident annually. In consequence, the Pastor declared first Friday of July every year as Holy Mary's Day to be observed by full congregational Service throughout the Celestial Church of Christ all over the world. The first observance of Holy Mary's Day took place on Friday 7th July, 1978.
Church Literature
I 00. The Pastor-in-Council shall have sole responsibility for the publication of all Church Literature of the Celestial Church of Christ. Included in this Literature are Gospel Diary, Almanacs, Hymn Books, Calendars, Church Periodicals and such other Literature as shall be purported to be authorised by or to emanate from Celestial Church of Christ.
Membership
101. All persons who earnestly and sincerely desire to be saved and therefore accept Jesus Christ as the son of God and only Lord and Saviour of mankind and who wish to worship and serve Him in the Church; demonstrating their sense of conversion by taking up such duties and privileges as are entailed in the fellowship, are welcome into the fold.
102. Nobody shall be considered a member of the Church until he has
been baptised in the Celestial Church of Christ, irrespective of any previous baptism(s) in any other Christian denomination(s).
103. A worshipper desiring to become a member shall
(i) renounce membership of all secret cults, societies, fraternities, etc.
(ii) renounce the worship of all idols and fetish,
(iii) desist from the worship of Satan and all his works, from following any fetish priests and from engaging in magic or any powers of darkness,
(iv) renounce all titles, positions or associations which directly or indirectly conflict with the above injunctions (e.g. any type of Chieftaincy title),
(v) declare that living or dead, he is a full member of the Celestial Church of Christ and that on his death, he should be buried in accordance with the tenets and rites of the Celestial Church of Christ,
(vi) sign a declaration of adherence to the above.
All the above are based on the teachings of the Holy Bible: Exodus 20:3 "Thou shalt have no other gods before me"
and 2Corinthians 6:14-15 "Be ye not unequally yoked together
with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that
believeth with an infidel?"
104. Members shall use within and outside the Church only those appellations and/or prefixes relating to their rank within the Church. In addition, members may use outside the Church those appellations and/or prefixes that relate to their professional titles (e.g. Engr., Arch., Dr., Brig., Flight Officer, Navy Commander, or B.A. M.Sc. etc) or their gender (e.g. Mr. Mrs., Miss., Esq.)
105. New members shall normally, prior to admission undergo sanctification with a pail of water and candle to avoid uncleanness in the Church. The prayer of sanctification shall be conducted by the Pastor's Representative in charge of the Parish or by his appointee.
Solemnity of the Church Services
106.During Church Services, the utmost solemnity and attention shall be observed. All mannerisms that may militate against this, such as gossip, side talk or pasting of currency notes on members of the Choir in appreciation of their music shall be totally avoided.
Church Structure
107. Celestial Church of Christ is one and indivisible. For organisational purposes and within the framework of this organisation, the following terms, wherever they are used and wherever they occur in this Constitution, shall be deemed to have the meaning hereunder respectively assigned to them.
(a) INTERNATIONAL HEADQUARTERS: Celestial Church of Christ is world-wide. While its Supreme Headquarters is at Porto Novo, Republic of Benin (formerly Dahomey) which is also its birth-place, the INTERNATIONAL HEADQUARTERS of the Church world-wide is at the Mission House, Ketu, Lagos State, Nigeria.
(b) DIOCESE: refers to the entire Church within Nigeria with its National or Diocesan Headquarters at 12/15 Church Street, Makoko, Yaba, Lagos State. It also includes for the time being those Parishes outside Nigeria (e.g. in United States of America, United Kingdom, Western Europe) which are administered from Nigeria.
(c) DISTRICTS: denote groups of Parishes within the Diocese ministered unto by Pastor's Representatives of the rank of Assistant Evangelist and above. Such Assistant Evangelists (and above) shall normally be based in a Parish from where they would administer to the parishes within the group to which they are assigned such Holy Rites as can only be administered by those with the rank of Assistant Evangelist and above.
(d) PARISH: denotes individual Church Congregation within the Diocese. As examples, we have
(i) Badagry Parish
(ii) Yemetu Parish
(iii) Oke-Ado Parish
i.Harton Street Parish, etc. etc. etc.
The Pastor
108. The Pastor as the ultimate Spiritual Head of the Celestial Church of Christ world wide shall be vested with the sole ultimate and unchallengeable authority on all matters affecting Church life, be it planning, organisation, doctrinal standards and the spread of Doctrines, Education, Legislation or Discipline, the provisions of this Constitution notwithstanding.
109. The Celestial Church of Christ world-wide shall have one Head who shall be known and called "The Pastor". (John 10.14-16).
1 10. In the History of the Celestial Church of Christ, there can be only one Founder. The use of the title "Pastor and Founder" or "Pastor/Founder" is exclusive to the very first Head of the Church, the one and only one Founder of the Church, Rev. Pastor Samuel Bilehou Joseph Oshoffa. Any future head of the Church shall be called simply "The Pastor".
Succession into the Office of the Pastor
111. Whereas the Pastor and Founder of Celestial Church of Christ has proclaimed publicly that, by divine inspiration, it has been revealed unto him concerning the mode for the appointment or selection of a Successor to the post of Pastor and Spiritual Head of the Church, it is here firmly established that:-
(i) The successor to the office of Pastor can be from any rank in the hierarchy of the Church and shall, at a time chosen by God to reveal this unto the erstwhile incumbent of the post of Pastor, be named and proclaimed the successor;
(ii) On succeeding after the transition of his predecessor in off-ice, the new Pastor shall occupy the Pastor's Chair in the inner altar.
Church Administration
Church Functionaries
Pastor's Representatives
112. There shall be a Representative of the Pastor in each Parish, i.e. an Elder or Leader or other rank in charge, who would perform all the duties of the Spiritual Leader in the Parish subject to the provisions of this Constitution.
113.Pastor's Representatives shall have all privileges to report direct to the Pastor on all matters.
114. In the absence of the Pastor, a Pastor's Representative may however, report to the Head of the Diocese who will, in turn, report back to the Pastor.
Appointment of Pastor's Representatives
115. The appointment of Pastor's Representative to a Parish shall be made by the Pastor in consultation with the Head of the Diocese. The Pastor may, however, make a direct appointment of his Representative to any Parish and inform the Head of the Diocese accordingly.
116. The Pastor's Representative when appointed in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution, shall, in the presence of the Pastor and the Congregation of selected Anointees of the Church, take an
Oath of Allegiance:
(a) to the service of Christ and Christ alone,
(b) to the total commitment to impart the teachings of Christ based on the Holy Bible;
(c) to the strict observance of the Rules and Tenets of the Church;
a.to perform his duties free of any charge whatsoever (Matthew 10:8).
117. He shall obtain from the Pastor a letter of credence as a testimony to his appointment.
I 18. Whenever a Pastor's Representative changes his Parish, he shall surrender his previous letter of credence for a new one, which shall be valid for the Parish into which he moves.
I 1 9. Any person who holds himself out as a Pastor's Representative , and who serves in any Parish without obtaining the letter of credence valid for that particular Parish has no authority over the Parish in which he is officiating and will in consequence render himself liable for appropriate disciplinary action.
120. Procedures for the appointment of Pastor's Representative and amendments to such procedures as may from time to time become necessary shall be the subject of a Church Proclamation which may be referred to as Pastoral Order.
Parochial Committees
121. The Parochial Committee constitutes the local government of the Parish Church and is empowered to deliberate for the progress of the Parish Church. It comes under the General Committee. This in turn is subordinate to the Supreme Committee with Headquarters in Porto Novo, Republic of Benin.
122. The Parochial Committee of each Parish shall have the power to apply disciplinary measures in minor cases affecting its Parish Church. Parochial Committees shall have no power to suspend or expel and must not, under any circumstances whatever suspend or expel any of its members from the Church. Parochial Committees may, in circumstances requiring such stem disciplinary action, make recommendation to the General Committee whose function it is to investigate, arbitrate, conciliate and take appropriate action.
123. Notwithstanding the provisions in Clause 122 above, the Pastor may, on his own or, in consultation with the Board of Trustees, take such action as he considers appropriate.
124. The full provisions of this Constitution in relation to DISCIPLINE are dealt with in Clauses 169 and 170 below.
125. Every Parish Church must have a Parochial Committee drawn from within its members and which will be responsible for the day-to-day affairs of the Parish. The composition of the Parochial Committee shall be thirty-three made up as follows:
(i) Chairman and two deputies
(ii) Honorary Secretary and two deputies
(iii) Honorary Treasurer and two deputies
(iv) Six ex-officio male spiritual elders
(v) Six ex-officio female spiritual elders
(vi) Six other male co-opted members
(vii) Six other female co-opted members
However, the Pastor, at his sole discretion, may approve a smaller number and composition of the Committee.
126. Where the Pastor is of the opinion that a Parochial Committee is not functioning for the best interests of the Church, he shall dissolve such Committee and order a re-election.
General Committee
127. The General Committee shall be the first governing body to which all Parochial Committees shall report. It shall perform its functions under the superior authority of the Supreme Committee to which it reports and the ultimate authority of the Pastor.
128. The General Committee shall deliberate on all matters referred to it from the Parochial Committees and generally on all matters affecting progress of the Church within the Diocese including the maintenance and interpretation of the doctrinal standard of the Church, the making and custodianship of the Church's Law, the ordering of the total life of the Church and the maintenance of discipline.
Constitution of General Committee:
129. The General Committee in Representative Session shall consist
of:
The Pastor (who shall be permanent Chairman)
The Head of the Diocese and his Deputy
Members of the Board of Trustees
All Evangelists of all grades within the Diocese Members of the Parochial Committee of the National or Diocesan Headquarters Church.
Parish Representatives consisting of':
(i) Pastor's Representative in the Branch;
(ii) Chairman of the Parochial Committee;
(iii) Secretary of the Parochial Committee;
(iv) Treasurer of the Parochial Committee;
(v) Two other members appointed by the Parish, one
male, one female;
(vi) Such other members as the Pastor may nominate from time to time.
Officers of General Committee
130. Officers of the General Committee shall consist of:
Chairman (Pastor or his appointee)
Hon. Secretary to the Committee
Hon. Assistant Secretaries to the Committee (2)
Hon. Treasurer to the Committee
Hon. Assistant Treasurers to the Committee (2)
and such other officers as the Committee may from time to time designate.
Secretary to General Committee:
131. The Secretary of General Committee shall normally be elected from among members by popular vote.
132. He shall be elected at the first session of the General Committee at which he is to take off-ice.
133. He shall hold office for a period of two years and shall be eligible for re-election thereafter for further period of two years.
134. He shall be responsible for the proper recording of the notes of the meetings and also monitoring the implementation of all decisions of the General Committee.
135. Subject to the provision of clause 131 the General Committee may appoint a member to act as Secretary for any of its meetings where the Secretary and his assistants are absent.
136. Treasurer of General Committee
(i) The Honorary Treasurer of the General Committee shall be elected by the General Committee by popular vote.
(ii) The Honorary Treasurer shall hold office for a period of two years and shall be eligible for re-election and shall:
(a) collect and administer such funds of the General Committee as directed by the General Committee;
(b) carry out such other functions concerning finance as may be directed by the General Committee from time to time.
137. Other Officers of General Committee
(i) The General Committee may designate and co-opt such other officers as may be required for proper and due execution of its business from time to time.
Meetings of General Committee
138. The General Committee shall meet at such time and place as fixed at the preceding meeting or as may be provided for by the Regulative Procedures, provided that:-
(i) If the last General Committee meeting has omitted to fix such time and place or for any other reason it becomes impracticable to meet at the time or place so fixed, the Pastor shall fix a time and place for the meeting of the General Committee. But, in the absence of the Pastor, the Head of the Diocese shall fix a time and place for the meeting of tile General Committee.
(ii) Furthermore, if on account of emergency the Pastor considers it necessary, he may summon an extraordinary meeting of the General Committee at such time and place and at such reasonable notice as he shall think fit.
139.The Pastor shall preside at all meetings of the General Committee provided that:
(a) If the Pastor is absent from a meeting of the Representative Session, the Head of the Diocese shall preside or, in his absence, any member nominated by the Pastor or Pastor-in-Council.
b.In all such meetings of the General Committee, where the Pastor is not present, the decisions taken shall always be subject to ratification by the Pastor.
Defect in Qualification or other Irregularity
140. Any defect subsequently discovered in the qualification or appointment of a person who purports to act as a member of the General Committee or the absence from the meeting of the Committee of any person or class of persons or any vacancy among the membership or the omission to give due notice to any person or any other similar irregularity shall not affect the validity of any vote or proceeding taken at a meeting of the General Committee and the same shall be valid as if the meeting had been duly constituted and all persons purporting to act as members had been fully qualified, subject always to the ratification of such proceeding or decision by the Pastor.
141. Notices, Agenda and Minutes:
(i) Notice of the matters to be considered at a meeting of the General Committee shall be given to such persons and in such manner as Regulative Procedures shall provide.
(ii) The Agenda for the meetings of' the General Committee shall be prepared in such form as Regulative Procedures may provide.
(iii) Minutes Book shall be kept, into which shall be recorded all minutes of all business transacted at General Committee meetings and copies of such documents as the Committee may by resolution or by Regulative Procedures require to be recorded therein.
(iv) Entries in the Minutes Book shall be read or laid before the General Committee during its session and shall be verified in such manner as Regulative Procedures shall provide and such verified entry shall be conclusive proof for the proceedings of the meeting of the General Committee to which it relates.
(v) The proceedings of the General Committee shall be published to such an extent and in such manner as the General Committee shall by Regulative Procedures or resolution provide.
(vi) Any defect in the procedures stated in 141 (i) to 141 (iv) above shall not by itself invalidate the proceedings and decisions reached at such meetings provided that such decisions receive the ratification of the Pastor.
Regulative Procedures
142. Subject to the provisions of this constitution, the Pastor or the Pastor-in-Council may provide by Regulative Procedures for any matter relating to the Church and its functions. Such Procedures shall take immediate effect and be obeyed by all members and all Parishes in the entire Diocese.