The major mandate given to the Pastor Founder Saint Papa SBJ Oshoffa was to preached the salvation of God to the universe; during his lifetime Celestial Church of Christ was established in United Kingdom. The aftermath of the first parish in U.K resulted to multiple parishes in Europe till present days.
Rev Pastor EMF Oshoffa currently approved 8 Provinces in the United Kingdom (5 based in London and 3 in Outer London) with the power vested on him through section 108 of Church Constitution while in the last 4 years, the Pastor also appoint M/S/E Olabode Fatusin as the Head of Dioceses for United Kingdom. It is a fact that the previous Head of Diocese in U.K left a well- structured leadership before M/S/E Fatusin assumed office as the U.K Head of Diocese.
A letter of expulsion of (3) Officers in C.C.C. North East Province in UK namely- Assistant Venerable Superior Evangelist Feyi Atere (North East Province Head), Assistant Venerable Superior Evangelist Yemi Sonibare (Deputy Head of Province) and the Assistant Venerable Superior Evangelist Afolabi Williams Shoniran (Province Secretary) went viral on major social media platforms. It was posted their with malicious intent to discredit the good names of those concerned.
The letter highlighted the decision of gross misconduct of those individuals but failed to explained what led to the gross misconduct while the letter also failed to mention any caution to the alleged individuals, nor the office of the Head of Diocese set up any Committee to investigate the alleged individuals before the Head of Diocese’s Office singlehandedly released a letter to expel Senior Clergies without the approval of the Pastor.
The appointment of a Province Head is a sole responsibility of the Pastor, while the Pastor alone under the jurisdiction of the Church laws has the fundamental rights to revert any appointments. It is not the duty of the Head of Diocese to revert an appointment of the Pastor. To established facts, a proper well constructed investigation should have taken place but not on this occasion. The interview session was more like interrogation format, which was totally unacceptable and infringement to the human rights of those concerned.
THE UNREST IN UK DIOCESE.
M/S/E Fatusin last year announced the appointment of V/S/E Oladipupo Johnson who is based in Belfast (Ireland) with little knowledge of UK jurisdiction as the Superintendent for all the (3) provinces in Outer London, these are North East Province, North West Province (Manchester) and Scotland without making wide consultation with the UK Governing Council.
The North East Province under the leadership A/V/S/E Atere operates within the UK Government laws with the full practice of the basic ordinance of the Church. The Province registered all Celestial Churches within their jurisdiction with the Company House (U.K), and is in the process of registering the Province with the Charity Commission so that they can assist in providing basic amenities for parishes for better welfare package.
Later! A shepherd from North East Province who has been a member of the province for the past 12 years by name Sup Evang Olarewaju Akingbade informed his Province Head A/V/S/E Atere of his plan to establish a parish in Huddersfield to continue to strengthen and preach the goodness of the gospel through Celestial Church of Christ.
While the Head of Province was preparing to inform the HOD – M/S/E Fatusin on the news to have another Celestial Church of Christ in the U.K. With negative intent from the Head of Diocese Office; the Head of Task Force A/V/S/E Seyi Akomolafe called Sup. Evang. Olarewaju Akingbade not to establish any parish nor lay any altar in the U.K.
V/S/E Oladipupo Johnson (The Superintendent) also called Sup. Evang. Olarewaju Akingbade not to lay any altar despite the fact that Sup. Evang. Olarewaju Akingbade has already secured a building, pay for musical instruments with invitation sent to hundreds of people. The Phone call from V/S/E Johnson to Sup Evang Olarewaju Akingbade was only (3) days to the laying of the altar. Having been declined from establishing a parish under our Father-in-Christ Reverend Pastor EMF Oshoffa, so Sup. Evang. Olarewaju Akingbade informed the leadership of M/S/E Fatusin that he will lay his altar under the leadership of Rev Omoge faction.
LAYING OF ALTAR.
With the approval of the U.K Government; Sup Evang. Olarewaju Akingbade laid the altar as planned while the Province Head of North East Province did not attend the event. However, the Secretary of the North East Province A/V/S/E Shoniran attended the altar laying, but not in his capacity as the Province Secretary but as a friend to Sup. Evang. Olarewaju Akingbade whom both has been friends for over 21 years.
The programme went as planned; all the basic ordinance of the Church was strictly observed. Due to the short notice to the Rev Omoge faction in the U.K, it was not possible for the physical representation. For information, the live streaming recorded do not show any evidence whatsoever that A/V/S/E Shoniran was present in his official capacity as the North East Province Secretary during the altar laying.
The question is “if a Celestial member from Rev. Pastor Omoge, or Rev Pastor Adeogun faction is organizing a programme; does that mean that members from Rev Pastor EMF Oshoffa must not attend”?
SUDDEN EXODUS OF (3) OFFICERS.
The Head of Diocese M/S/E Fatusin continues with his authoritarian style of Government, when he invited all the executive of the North East Province in UK through a WhatsApp message to a meeting in London on the 18th of April 2023;. He never informed them of his intention but rather presented the meeting as usual routine of events; during the meeting without any notification, The Head of Diocese alleged Assistant Venerable Superior Evangelist Feyi Atere (North East Province Head,) His Deputy Assistant Venerable Superior Evangelist Yemi Sonibare and his Province Secretary Assistant Venerable Superior Evangelist Afolabi Williams Shoniran of act of insubordination to his office. He (M/S/E Fatusin) presided over the meeting & passed a resolution that the Province Head, Province Deputy & the Province Secretary be removed from Office.
The Head of Diocese never set up any Committee to investigate the matter, while he also never allow those Officers the chance of fair hearing to defend themselves. The questionable aspect was that the Province Head & Province Deputy who never attended the laying of altar was expelled from Office.
The general question on the lips of Celestial members throughout the world remain that:
“ What section of the Church Constitution empower a Diocese Head to remove someone the Pastor of the Church appoint”?
“ Why does the Pastor Office never forwarded the position of the Pastor directly to the Executive of the North East Province & copy the Head of Diocese”?
It is a fact that the term of Office of the Head of Diocese M/S/E Fatusin was expired since February 2023; while the Pastor has not officially announce any tenure elongation for M/S/E Fatusin. However there is a rumour that Pastor has asked him to continue till December 2023 but no officially statement as been released to that effect.
It will be advisable that M/S/E Fatusin must understand that each Celestial member has fundamental rights to associate with whosoever pleads their mind, while we must not use the negative ineffectiveness of factionalization in Celestial Church to create disunity among friends in the fold. We must practice the Christianity we preach. The kangaroo exodus has been rejected by the affected members with immediate effect.
The Church will not want to experience the negative action rocking the USA Diocese in UK Diocese, while the HOD must also understand that he cannot be in office forever. The personal interest of members must be respected while the HOD must immediately revert the decision for the betterment of the United Kingdom who stand as the oldest Diocese in Europe.
