Heavenly Church of Christ

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Purification ceremony at Cotonou in Benin

The Heavenly Church of Christ ( Celestial Church of Christ abbreviated: CCC ), in the francophone area Église du Christianisme Céleste , is a Christian church that was founded in 1947 in Dahomey , today's Benin , by Samuel BJ Oschoffa (1909-1985).

In the following years it spread mainly in West Africa and is today the largest in the group of Aladura churches , the "praying churches". Their following is estimated at over 15 million. The official headquarters of the Heavenly Church of Christ is located in Porto-Novo in Benin, alongside the city of Imeko in Nigeria , Celestial City , which is emphatically referred to by supporters of the CCC as their “new Jerusalem ”. The founding father Oschoffa is also buried here. The CCC maintains its own academy in Lagos (Nigeria), which serves to train the "shepherds", the community leaders (comparable to the pastor's office in the major churches).

Doctrine and Faith Practice

The name "heavenly church" is derived from the Revelation of John , according to which in the fourth chapter angels celebrate a constant service in heaven with the 24 elders, which the CCC imitates. The CCC is very similar in its outward appearance and doctrine to the Cherubim and Seraphim Society , to which it expressly refers as its predecessor church. In doing so, she claims to be the keystone of a development. In this sense, it is to be understood as the CCC as a "last ship of salvation" ( load ship of salvation called). The white cassock with which the parishioners go to church is characteristic of their appearance.

Like the Cherubim and Seraphim Society (C&S), the CCC has a strong liturgical focus in its services, which distinguishes it from the charismatic Christian movements that dominate Africa today . The liturgy appears like a compilation of Catholic and Protestant elements and thus underlines, more than with the C&S, its universalist claim. In addition to the use of holy water and incense, kneeling down in prayer and strongly ritualized gestures (which, however, do not have a clearly Catholic background), the sermon is the focus of the service. Congregational singing also plays an important role. The CCC's songbook contains nearly 1,000 hymns and chants that are used both in worship and in special prayers. Since in principle every worship participant is allowed to sing a song spontaneously during a sermon, for example, the chant functions like a dialogue between the liturgist and the congregation. Another thing they have in common with the C&S is the pronounced veneration of angels, especially the Archangel Michael . Michael is seen by the “Celestians” as the bearer of the Holy Spirit and is called upon at every prayer. Religious scholars have seen the worship of angels as a substitute for the traditional African ancestor cult. Together the two churches is also the great importance of the prophets and prophets that the oracles and Babalawos replace. The prophets want to give their congregation members, as well as people outside their church, help in life through so-called “spiritual work”. However, some prophets also see it as their duty, just as in the Old Testament, to urge the political leaders of their countries to observe ethical principles within their offices.

Church services are held on three days, Wednesday ( Mercy-day ), Friday ( Power-day ) and Sunday. Since Thursday also plays a special role as a holy day, one can recognize the four-day week traditional in many West African societies here.

A strong biblical understanding of faith is often expressed in sermons and statements by the followers. H. the contents of the Bible are taken as literally true and binding. Nevertheless, one cannot necessarily speak of a fundamentalist movement with this church , since dogmas and also personal beliefs of their followers take a back seat to the religious practice. In this respect, the CCC moves within an African tradition that avoids confrontations and places social consensus before personal as well as abstract distinctions.

Members of the CCC are subject to various dietary regulations. Especially foods that are traditionally considered to be potential carriers of magical powers in Africa (such as kola nuts ) are forbidden to followers. The consumption of pork, tobacco and alcohol are also prohibited. The CCC invokes in its regulations the spiritual character of its church, which these substances oppose.

hierarchy

There is a distinct hierarchy within the CCC. About 20 ranks lead from brother or sister up to pastor , who holds a rank similar to that of a pope. Special importance is attached to the evangelists (comparable to bishops and cardinals, for example), who not only monitor compliance with the doctrine, but also make political decisions within the church. The rank of evangelist can only be held by men. While lower ranks are assigned by the evangelists, the upper ranks are determined by election within the church leadership. The church has been in a schism since 2001 because it was no longer possible to agree on a common head. The rank of pastor has been vacant since then. The division runs primarily between the Anglophone and the Francophone part of the church and is based on disputes over competence, not on different doctrinal opinions.

Ecumenism

According to its statutes, the CCC is part of the one, holy, indivisible, spiritual church . In the past she made various efforts to establish ecumenical cooperation with other churches. So she tried to join the World Council of Churches , but failed because she did not clearly distance herself from the polygamous marriage. In 1982 there was a meeting between Samuel Oschoffa and Pope John Paul II.

criticism

The CCC, like all so-called “white garment churches”, ie churches whose members appear in white cassocks, is controversial among African Christians. While many suspect them to be associated with occult powers in connection and be just a Christian masked continuation of pagan cults, which are the other prophets and prophets in great demand as healers and soothsayers. The CCC strongly opposes allegations of paganism or syncretism and insists that all of its practices have a biblical background. After all, it was part of the vision of the founding father, Oschoffa, to take action against the “fetish priests”.

The practice of rebaptism , which is often carried out and which is a breach of the ecumenical principle, is viewed as sectarian . The CCC refers here to the special conditions in Africa, because due to obscure baptism practices in some churches one cannot speak of a valid baptism. Many Africans also wanted to evade baptism out of fear by falsely claiming that they had already been baptized.

literature

  • Afeosemime U. Adogame : Celestial Church of Christ. The Politics Of Cultural Identity In A West African Prophetic-charismatic Movement (= Studies on the Intercultural History of Christianity. Vol. 115). Peter Lang, Frankfurt am Main et al. 1999, ISBN 3-631-34849-5 (also: Bayreuth, University, dissertation, 1998).

Web links