The controversy over the appointment of Emmanuel Oshoffa, son of the Pastor and founder of Celestial Church of Christ (CCC) the late Pastor S.B.J Oshoffa, as the spiritual head of the Celestial Church of Christ (CCC) worldwide took another dimension as the most senior in the hierarchy of the Church, Reverend Superior Evangelist Gilbert Oluwatosin Jesse, was formally declared the accepted spiritual head of religious body worldwide.
The declaration was made at a press briefing attended by all the superior evangelists, heads of dioceses, state evangelists, shepherds and members of CCC yesterday at the CCC Tejuoso Parish in Lagos.
The Nigerian Diocese Pastor's Representatives Council, represented by the Chairman, Shepherds Council, Senior Evangelist Lagun Adesanya, said after due consultation with members of CCC worldwide and after thorough review of the affairs of the church, it was agreed that Jesse be appointed the spiritual head of CCC worldwide. Adesanya said Jesse was highly respectable and generally accepted to all members worldwide as the Pastor of CCC worldwide.
The development was sequel to the disagreement with the appointment of Oshoffa as spiritual head of the Church by the three ex-trustees at a meeting in Imeko, Ogun State on Christmas Day.
Adesanya said that all the shepherds, church workers and entire members of the CCC in Lagos State were solidly behind Jesse as the pastor and spiritual head of CCC worldwide, while they rejected Oshoffa in totality.
He said those behind the appointment of Oshoffa as the spiritual head worldwide are out to divide the church and the family of Oshoffa as they did it without the knowledge of the late founder's family.
"Beloved shepherds and members, these men and their agents must not be allowed in your various parishes, chase them out, disgrace them anywhere you see them", he said.
It was also said that Oshoffa (Jnr) was rejected on the ground that he was never a member of CCC while his father was alive as he did not believe in the principle of his father and the doctrine of the church.