STATUS
Including the Articles of Association
and the Regulations;
this document has been adopted on, Sunday, June
16, 1996,
in Porto-Novo, the World Headquater and amended by
the April 14 and
November 1st
2000 Synods.
INTRODUCTION
During one of his multiple trips to villages along the banks of river OUEME,
where he used to go to purchase ebony wood, the carpenter Samuel
Biléou OSCHOFFA, successor
of his late father Joseph OSCHOFFA
in the above-mentioned profession, was caught in the neighbouring Agonguè
forest by the total sun eclipse of May,1947.
Three months later, he got out of such inevitable retirement, wholly transformed, for on his way back to Porto-Novo he performed numerous miracles and wonders. On September 29, 1947, while praying with his friend couple Zèvounou Frederic and Marie, he became aware of the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ who urged him to create this Church.
Why another Church, whereas
there are in a great number? Samuel OSCHOFFA
asked our Lord Jesus-Christ who appeared to him.
"From time immemorial, people worshipped me but not all of them had access
to my kingdom, for, in difficulties(diseases, worries, troubles, various difficulties,
etc…) they refer themselves to satanic deeds( idols, charms, charlatans,
soothsayers etc) and when they died, I no more received them because they
have already drunk as well in the cup of the Almighty God as in Satan one.
It is pitiful, but to, henceforth, avoid such fate to my worshippers, you,
Samuel OSHOFFA, I am instructing you to create a congregation
whose members should only worship God. People would not believe that the Lord
appeared to you but I and my angels would be at your side and I will back
your deeds with wonders, signs, miracles for them to believe, oh! Son of God,
trust, do not fear anything, be aware that we are living the final days. That
Church shall be the last vessel to help people head to the salvation for,
I will be back very soon"
Celestial Christians, once being
a member of such Church that is the Last Vessel, you should totally trust
God and his unique Son Jesus-Christ.
The revealed spiritual data to the Christian Celestial Church shall be backed
up by a legal, administrative and organisational basis before being applied
to a free agreed discipline. That is why these basic texts have been written
and adopted on June,16 1996
by the world Head Office of the Christian Celestial Church
in view of updating the Articles of Association dated 1951
registered under N°2252/APA
dated October 5, 1956 and published in the
official gazette on November 1st, 1956 as well as the Regulations
in the "Light on the Celestial Christianity" of 1972.
In view of a high effectiveness in action, the High Committee envisaged the
amendment of this document some years after the implementation of managerial
structures that it includes.
These
basic texts are divided into two volumes:
A. The Articles of Association
B. The Regulations
THE CHRISTIAN CELESTIAL CHURCH
THE ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
Amended on April 4 and November 1st,2000
PREAMBLE
The Christian Celestial Church, worldwidely known, is one and indivisible.
It has by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ been revealed to its founder,
the prophet pastor Samuel Biléou OSCHOFFA
on September29, 1947 at Porto-Novo
in Dahomey, now the Republic of Benin, . It has been officially registered
under the decision N°2252/APA dated october
5, 1956 published in the official gazette of Dahomey territory
, French Republic, of November 1st
1956 under N°28
These Articles of Association determine:
1- the legal frame of the Church foundation, its spiritual
doctrine and its mission.
2- the managerial bodies of the Community, the fundamental
structures of the Church and their operation, the membership conditions of
the Church as well as subsequent obligations.
TITLE
I
CREATION, DENOMINATION, OBJECTIVE, HEAD OFFICE, AND MEMBERSHIP
CHAPTER
I
Creation and Denomination
Article
01: Creation It has been created by the Almighty on the basis
of the Bible a Christian Church with the help of Samuel
Biléou OSCHOFFA on September 1947
at Porto-Novo in Dahomey, now the Republic of Benin.
Members of such Church are people who have been baptised by immersion. they
promise to worship God and God alone, in accordance with the liturgy and prescriptions
that govern it.
Article 02: Denomination The
revealed denomination of such Congregation is Christian Celestial Church.
That denomination can be translated in languages of the countries where the
Church is set up. Its founder is the prophet pastor Samuel
Biléou OSCHOFFA. He was born in AHOUANTINKOMEY(Porto-Novo)
Dahomey in 1909 and died on September
10, 1985 at Lagos in Nigeria.
CHAPTER
II
Objective, Head Office, Membership
Article 03: In according with
the divine commandment revealed to its Chosen, that Church aims at :
-garthering people having faith in the unique and one God;
-calling through the Gospels those who have not got such faith
-creating among members brotherly links and make their faithfulness effective
towards the Almighty God the Creator
-and at last, training its members through their education and their instruction
in accordance with the Christian doctrine.
Article 04: The head office of
the Christian Celestial Church revealed to the prophet pastor founder is at
Porto-Novo (Dahomey) now Republic of Benin. the City Porto-Novo is the birthplace
and host the motherly parish ; That head Office cannot be transferred to any
place else. Any parishes of the Christian Celestial Church in the whole world
are members of that motherly Parish.
The prophet pastor or the Pastor, President of the High Commitee, Leader of
the Church shall reside in Porto-Novo, head office of the Christian Celestial
Church.
Article 05: Any person, whatever
its origin is, can freely join the Christian Celestial Church. He/ she should
strictly abide by the Christian doctrine and regulations of the Christian
Celestial Church.
TITLE
II
ADMINISTRATIVE ORGANISATION
CHAPTER
I
Members
Article 06: The Christian Celestial Church is composed of people and dignitaries who work for its development. Sympathizers may financially and physically participate to some activities like members and dignitaries.
Article 07: Members are people who have been baptised by immersion by an authorised Evangelist and live a constant spiritual life. They are compelled to pay an annual amount known as the contribution to parish cost which is determined by the High Commitee which will take a great account of each country economic facts when it happened that it should decide upon the proposals made to it by the National Steering Committees, managerial bodies of Dioceses.
Article 08: Dignitaries are confirmed members who through unctions have reached at least the level of Evangelists owing to the style of their spiritual life as well as their private life. They should be respected and fight for the safeguarding of the holly image of the Christian Celestial Church. Some Dignitaries will be appointed to manage administrative bodies of the Christian Celestial Church.
CAHPTER
II
Line up and Allocations of the High Committee
Article
09: The Christian Celestial Church shall be run by an institution
world widely known as High Committee. Members of such institution are appointed
by the President of the High Committee. They need to respect the head office
of the Church. Decisions implementing bodies of the Synod at the level the
Christian Celestial Church, the High Committee shall be as follows:
-A President: It is the first leader of the Christian Celestial Church
-Two Vice-Presidents
-A Secretary General
-Two Deputy Secretaries General
-A General Treasurer. He/She is at the same, President of the Funds Commission
-Two Deputy General Treasurers
-An Organiser: President of the Commission of religious official festivals
-Two Deputy Organisers
-Three Counsellors
-Members of the head office Steering Committee
Heads of Dioceses and spiritual heads of countries where the Church is set
up. They play the role of Counsellors and let the High Committee know any
information relating to the life of the Church in their respective countries.
Members of the Church Permanent Commissions are the followings:
1 the Commission of spiritual training and promotions
2 the commission of discipline, justice and disputes
3 the commission of international relationships
4 the commission of official spiritual fetivals
5 the commission of finance and inheritance of the Christian Celestial Church
6 the commission of education, elimination illiteracy and training to self-employment
7 the commission of cultural entertainment
8 the commission of health and social affairs
9 the commission of communication and press
10 the commission of infrastructures and land affairs in charge of the map
the Christian Celestial Church
11 the commission inter demonitional relations
12 the commission in charge of security of peoples and goods.
It can created by the High Committee any other commission if need be.
Article 10: the President, the two vice Presidents, the Secretary General and his/her two deputies, the General Treasurer and his/her two deputies, the Organiser and his/her two deputies, the three Counsellors and Members of the head office Steering Committee are the Permanent Body of the High Committee.
Article 11: In case of vacancy, for the sake of death, resignation, or expulsion, the President of the High Committee proceeds to the replacement of the person. The replacement of the President of the High Committee of the Christian Celestial Church, particularly, in case of death, shall only be conducted by the congregation of Elders, expressly convened for such matter by the first Vice-President. this session shall take place three months after the president position vacancy. During such while, the first Vice-President shall be in charge of running the current affairs.
Article 12: While awaiting the Prophet Pastor return, in accordance with the founder prophecy, the Head Office shall appoint a Pastor to fill up the gap created by death of the Prophet Pastor Founder. He shall preside over the destinies of the Church. He shall assist the Prophet Pastor if the deeds of the latter witness that he is really the Chosen of God.
Article 13: The High Committee shall meet once a semester in ordinary session to examine all questions relating to the life of the Church. It can meet at any time and in extraordinary session upon convening of its President.
Article
14: The permanent body of the High Committee shall assist
the High Committee President in the running of the Church affairs. It shall
meet in ordinary session once a month; it can meet in extraordinary session
upon convening of its President.
Article 15: The National Steering
Committees shall account for the High Committee all activities it has conducted
in each of their dioceses and abide by any of its instructions
Article
16: First leader of the world head office, the President of
the High Committee shall
convene the annual session of the synod from december21 to 23 before the pilgrim
on the beach of Sèmè.
Shall attend to such synod: the members of the High committee, a delegation
of three(03)
persons per diocese and members of the Steering Committee. It aims at examining
the life of
the Church at the international level and to plan for the following year.
Article
20: The Deputy Secretaries General
They shall assist the Secretary General in the discharge of his duty and replace
him in case of failure.
CHAPTER
III
Duties of members of the High Committee
Article
17: The President The President of the High Committee shall
be the first leader of the Christian Celestial Church. He represents the moral
life of the Church. He shall answer for it in any circumstances before any
legal institution
but he can also delegate his authority to a Vice-President or to any other
person of his choice.
Only the President of the High Committee or his duly appointed Representative
shall be able to
make official statements on behalf of the Church. He shall see to the good
running of God deeds and shall be assisted by other members
of the High Committee. He shall convene and preside over meetings of the High
Committee and its permanent body. He shall conduct the debates
in accordance with the Bible,countersign minutes of meetings,follow the reach
of decisions taken together
and make abide by the Articles of Association and the Internal Regulations.
In case of disagreement, decision of the President shall be very important
He shall only be responsible of administering unctions to deserving members
and Dignitaries.
Any official act that shall commit the life of the Church shall be his seal.
He shall authorise the revenues and the expenses of the Church.
Article
18:the Vice-Presidents As High Members of the Church,their
spiritual culture, wisdom and experience
shall enable them to effectively help the President in the discharge of his
heavy mission.
Some important missions from the Head office could be entrusted to them by
the President.
The vice-President shall temporary take over the responsibility of the President
in case
of the president position vacancy or death and shall convene the meeting of
the Elders in accordance with
the provisions of article 12 of these Articles of Association
Article
19: The Secretary General of the High Committee shall keep
the archives of the Church, go through and write upon
the authorization ofthe President any mails. He shall report questions placed
on the agenda,write minutes of meetings that
he shall jointly sign with the President,prepare notice on the authorization
of the President.
The Secretary General shall sort out and turn as information, decisions taken
during session that he shall send to various persons.
He shall have the folders of any Dioceses,activities programme and activities
assessments of all permanent commissions.
He shall coordinate activities of permanent commissions under the wing of
the President of the High Committee.
Article
21: The General TreasurerPresident of the Commission of Finance
and Inheritance of the Christian Celestial Church, he shall be answerable
for a good management
of financial resources and the Christian Celestial Church Inheritance before
the High Committee and its permanent body.
Article
22: The Deputy General Treasurers
He shall assist the General treasurer and replace him in case of absence.
Article
23: The Organiser As the President of the Commission of official
spiritual fetivals, He shall be in charge within the High Committee
and its permanent Body of dispatching mail and the technical preparation of
meetings. He shall be assisted
by two deputy organisers among which the Vice-President of the Commission
of official spiritual festivals.
He shall be replaced in case of hindrance by the Vice-President of such Commission.
Article 24: The Consellors They shall make the High Committee and its Permanent Body benefit from all wisdom and experience they have.
Article
25: Heads of Dioceses, Spiritual Heads
As High members of the Church, they run, under the wing of the Head of the
Diocese and in collegiality,
activities of the National Steering Committees.They shall inform the Christian
Celestial Church of its life related matter
in their respective countries by as such enabling the High Committee to efficiently
solve problems that are brought to it.
The Head of Diocese:
He shall conduct the administrative
and organisational affairs
of the Church which he represents for the political and administrative authorities
The spiritual Head
His knowledge of the Church, rituals, ordonnances and prescriptions shall
enable him to grant the Church the spiritual vision
that shall be necessary.
Article
26: Presidents of Commissions They shall coordinate the activities
of their commissions and account for them to the HIGH Committee. They shall
constantly refer themselves to the President of the High Committee in the
course of the discharge of their duties.
Duties assigned to each commission are in the Internal Regulations of the
Christian Celestial Church.
CHAPTER
IV
Permanent Body of the High Committee.
Article 27: The permanent body
of the High Committee contains the following members
-A President of the High Committee
-Two Vice-Presidents
-A Secretary General
-Two Deputy Secretaries General
-A General Treasurer
-Two Deputy General Treasurers
-An Organizer
-Two Deputy Organizers
-Three Members of the Steering Committee
The permanent body can therefore, appointa President of Commission or any other person whose presence shall be necessary for the study of a specific question.
Article 28: The permanent body of the High Committee shall help the President of the High Committee manage daily affairs of the Church. It shall meet for ordinary session once a month and for extraordinary sessions as much as necessary
Article 29: The permanent body of the High Committee shall deliberate in camera and take decisions in simple majority of members present
Decisions so taken commit all members of the permanent body of the High Committee and the whole Christian Celestial, Church.
Article 30: Members of the Permanent Body shall keep secret deliberations and information out of sessions of the said body for fear of severe sentence
CHAPTER
V
National Steering Committee, Regional Committees, Sub-Regional Committees
, Spiritual Leaders and Parish Committees.
Article 31: In each country, the Church shall be run by a National Steering Committee which President shall be the Head of Diocese. He could be appointed in each country a spiritual Head. The latter shall strongly cooperate with the Head of the Diocese and the National Steering Committee. He shall be associated with all questions relating to the life of the Church. the President of the High Committeee shall appoint through decision of the Head of the Diocese and in case of failure, the Spiritual Head.
Article 32: The composition and duties of the National Steering Committee are in the Internal Regulations of the Christian Celestial Church
Article
33: For a better management of parishes, it has been created
in each Diocese, Regional and Sub-Regional Committees. The number of the Regional
and Sub-Regional Committees shall be in accordance with the density of Parishes
and of Land division of the Constituencies.
Like the High Committee, some Commissions shall be created to, help the Nationaal
Steering Committee and Regional Committees in the discharge of their Missions
Article 34: Sub-Regional Committee has a Leader; He shall be the President. He shall be appointed upon a Decision of the President of the High Committee or on joint proposal of the Head of the Diocese and the Spiritual Head. He shall be under the Authority of the Head of the Diocese, President of the National Steering Committee.
Article 35: The composition of the Regional Committees and their assignement are in the Internal Regulations of the Christian Celestial Church.
Article 36: the Regional Committee shall be subdivided in Sub-Regional Committees. The Sub-Regional Committee shall not have permanent commissions. It shall coordinate activities of Parishes. The Internal Regulaations shall specify the composition and duties
Article 37: Each Parish shall be run by a Spiritual Leader and Parish Committee.
Article 38: The Internal Regulations shall specify the composition of the Parish Committees, their duties as well as the Spiritual Leader ones.
TITLE
III
FINANCE
CHAPTER
I
The Church Resources
Article 39: The Church resources
are as follows:
offers an contributions of members
resources from harvest festivals, various activities conducted within the
Church
donations, legs and allowances
incomes from movables and landed properties which belong to the Church
Artiucle
40: The management of these resources shall be entrusted :
To the High Committee Members, National Steering Committees and Regional Committees
Members, the Commission of Finance and Inheritance of the Christian Celestial
Church that are answerable before the concerned committee and shall account
every year.
to the sub regional and paarish committee; it is the tresurer who shall be
responsible of their management before alike bodies. Each year the management
balance shall be sent to the High Bodies
Article
41: At Each above-mentioned levels, a personal budget shall
be set up each year and divided in revenues and expenses.
The agreed budget shall be submitted to the appreciation of the High Bodies.
Article42: Treasurer shall make the financial operations in regaards of the financial orthodoxy an d under the responsibility of the President, Officials with power to authorise expenditure at the level of various bodies.
Article 43: The High Commission, the National Steering Commission, the Regional, Sub Regional Committees and Parish Committees have each a giro or bank account
Article 44: Any payment by cheque, funds withdrawal shall be made upon the joint signatures of the President and the General Treasurer of the High Committee, the National Steering Committee, the Regional and Sub-Regional Committees. as far as parishes are concerned, the spiritua&l leader the President and the Treeassurer shall be co-signatories.
CHAPTER
II
Allowances of Various Leaders
Article 45: The dischaarge of some duties enable an allowaance. A parissh decision put a stress on the modalities
TITLE IV
VARIOUS PROVISIONS
CHAPTER I
Amendment or Additional Elements of these Articles of Association
Article 47: these articles of association shall be supplemented by the Internal Regulations
Article 48: Any amendment of the said articles of association shall be the subject of vote casting by the three fourth of the present members of the Synod; Notification shall be made to the Minister of Home Affairs of each country where the Church is set up in accordance with the Law.
Article 49: An amendment of these articles of association in view of transferring the World Head Office shall be nill.
Artiucle 50: The Christian Celestial Church shall not envisage its disbanding.
Article 51: These article of Association which annuls any former contrary provisions shall be registered and published wherever need will be.
Porto-Novo
November 1st 2000
The Presideent Of the High Committee
Reverend Pastor Benoît D.AGBAOSSI