BENIN ‘FEMALE SHEPHERD’ SAGA: MC FOLAKE AKINTAN APOLOGISES…PARDONED…As E.M.F. Reads Riot Act

A high powered delegation made up of executive members of C.C.C. Clergy from Benin, Edo State, visited His Eminence, Reverend Emmanuel Mobiyina Oshoffa today at the Pastoral Residence in Lagos. The delegation led by Most Superior Evangelist N.K. Amadasun (Pastoral Adviser, C.C.C. W/w) was on a mission to meet with His Eminence in a bid to resolve the Benin ‘Female Shepherd” Controversy, ignited by the activities of MC (Prophetess) Folake Akintan of the Celestial Church of Christ, Central Parish 1, Circuit Headquarters, Benin City, Edo State.

The delegation was made up of Venerable Superior Evangelist J.A. Ogunmoyero (Divisional Head) Venerable Superior Evangelist Femi Obiyan (Edo Evangelism Head), Venerable Superior Evangelist Samuel Osodi (Edo Head of Prophets/Prophetesses) and MC (Prophetess) Folake Akintan.

Also in attendance were Most Superior Evangelist Olusegun Olarinde, Venerable Superior Evangelist Gabriel Jerry, Venerable Superior Evangelist Augustine Olumilade, Venerable Superior Evangelist S.F. Adeniyi, Superior Evangelist Kayode Ajala and Most Senior Evangelist Solomon Oshoffa.

Addressing the gathering, Pastoral Adviser, Most Superior Evangelist N.K. Amadasun, revealed that he did not get to know of the embarrassing incident until just a few days back. He thereafter summoned a meeting of the state’s Clergy Executives to deliberate on the incident. MC (Prophetess) Folake Akintan, was also invited to the meeting and was reprimanded for her actions, which had brought untold embarrassment to the Celestial Church of Christ in general and the exalted Seat of the Pastor in particular. A decision was then taken to visit His Eminence in Lagos to apologise for the embarrassment that this unacceptable development had caused the Celestial Church of Christ and His Eminence.

In response to questions from His Eminence, MC (Prophetess) Folake Akintan accepted that she’d erred and sought forgiveness. She assured the gathering that such misdemeanor, on her part, would never be repeated. She was reprimanded and counselled by His Eminence before being pardoned.

His Eminence, Reverend Emmanuel Mobiyina Oshoffa, Pastor and Spiritual Head of the Celestial Church of Christ Worldwide, thereafter reminded all present that his father, the late Reverend, Pastor, Founder S.B.J. Oshoffa, in his lifetime, condemned in no uncertain terms anyone who attempted to alter the rules, tenets and ordinances of the Celestial Church of Christ Worldwide. The late Reverend, Pastor, Founder, even went as far as pronouncing very grave consequences on anyone who attempted to tamper with C.C.C.’s rules, tenets and ordinances. To cancel the effects of such grave pronouncements on the offender, His Eminence asked MC (Prophetess) Folake Akintan to kneel before him for his prayers and blessings.

The meeting came to an end after Reverend E.M.F. Oshoffa had stated categorically that, going forward, any church member caught violating the ordinances of the Celestial Church of Christ Worldwide, would be EXCOMMUNICATED from the church.

In a similar development, bothered by the battery of the image of the C.C.C, especially in the new media in recent times, Reverend E.M.F. Oshoffa has given fresh Pastoral Mandate to the Celestial Church of Christ Task Force under the leadership of Venerable Superior Evangelist Firmin Akinbode Adjovi, to gird its loins and be more effective in investigating incidents of negative conducts amongst church members. Redeeming the image of our great church and putting checks and balances in place to curtail bad conduct amongst members and clergy, is a task that must be done. Regular reports of such misconducts must be delivered to the Office of the Pastor, as culprits would be made to face disciplinary action, he assured.

The fresh pastoral mandate was contained in a memo CCC/EMF/PO/AD-002/02-23 dated 10th February, 2023, and addressed to the Task Force Chairman, C.C.C. W/w.