Celestial Church of Christ Worldwide has clarified that it only banned the use of mobile devices like phones and tablet during services. Not only that, the white garment church also frowned at the use of mobile phones for covering service and events.
This clarification became necessary in order to put a lie to a viral post on social media alleging that the head of media and publicity unit of the church, Superior Evangelist Kayode Ajala, has banned the use of social media in all Celestial Church Churches.
In a release made available to News Celestial, SE Ajala debunked the allegation and explained that although some measures were taken to stem the tide of image bashing the church is facing, phasing out social media was not part of it.
He added that the church is pained that the irony of this negative trend is that its members are the notorious culprits responsible for these acts.
“Our attention has been drawn to the deliberate misinformation making the rounds on social media that the use of the social media has been banned in the Celestial Church of Christ Worldwide. This extreme action was attributed to the Head of the Media and Publicity Unit, C.C.C. W/w, Superior Evangelist Kayode Ajala M.P.I.C, who delivered the pastoral welcome address on behalf of His Eminence, Reverend E.M.F. Oshoffa, at the ongoing Workers Retreat at the Celestial City, Imeko, Ogun State, earlier today,” the media head stated.
His Eminence, Reverend E.M.F. Oshoffa, Spiritual Leader, CCC W/W
Read the full address, which was delivered to the hearing of a large body of Shepherds, Church Workers and Seminary Staff and Students, below.
“You would all agree with me that we are passing through a difficult period when our great church is faced with variegated challenges, perhaps most disturbing of which is the wanton bashing of the image of the Celestial Church of Christ Worldwide, especially in the social media. It is painful to note that there is no other church in the world whose own members flagrantly batter its image like the Celestial Church of Christ. Our church has the highest number of members who use their private as well as public social media handles to run negative campaigns against their own Church, Pastor and Elders. It is rather unfortunate that most of these social media aggressors are some of our own extremely judgmental members with an overdosed sense of entitlement.”
“The pastoral welcome address at the ongoing Workers Retreat then proceeded to highlight Regulative Procedures/Image Management Mandates that would soon be released to nip this malaise in the board and called on all Shepherds, Church Workers and well meaning faithfuls of the Church to join hands with His Eminence to correct this anomaly that has done and is still doing untold damage to the revered image of the Celestial Church of Christ Worldwide.. Such Regulative Procedures were highlighted as follows:
Shepherds in Charge of parishes of the Celestial Church of Christ and youth leaders at all levels, are to make a conscious effort to dissuade church members under their watch from posting anything negative about the Church and fellow Church members in the media, especially the social media.
Parish authority are to ensure that church members switch off all personal phones and mobile devices during church services, crusades and other church programs.
The use of mobile phones, I-pads and Bluetooth Devices for recordings are hereby banned during church services and events. Also, the use of cameras and unauthorised video coverage would no longer be allowed during church services and events. Going forward, only recognized Church/Parish Media would be allowed to cover and record church services. Note that this shall also rekindle our love for carrying and reading the Bible, instead of relying on Bible Apps which content are constantly being tampered with to accommodate strange concepts.
Recognised Parish Media Departments would be required to register with the Central Media and Publicity Unit of C.C.C. W/w to enable them participate in regular seminars, orientation and educative programs that would be organised to hone their skills as we make progress.
Adverts of Spiritual Items and adverts asking for consultation fees for spiritual consultation are also banned as such are anathema to what the Celestial Church of Christ Worldwide stands for. Violators will be severely sanctioned.
Handbags, Travel Bags and Suitcases would not be allowed inside the church auditorium during church services and events.
Shepherds in Charge and Parochial Committees of Parishes are to ensure that signages/stickers are pasted in conspicous places in and around the church auditorium to highlight the second and third regulations above.
Parish Secretaries are hereby mandated to add these Regulative Procedures/Image Management Mandates to their weekly Sunday announcements (Ifilo) with immediate effect and until further notice.
Complaints Channels via E-Mail Addresses and active Phone Numbers would be opened so that anyone with complaints/grievances can call or send mails to the church administration to lay their complaints. And be assured that such complaints would be promptly attended to.
No member/Elder/Official of the Celestial Church of Christ Worldwide MUST speak to the public on behalf of the Celestial Church of Christ Worldwide, except those appointed and mandated by the Pastor and Spiritual Head to do so.
Violators of these Regulative Procedures and Image Management Mandates shall be sanctioned.
Any Parish or Shepherd to whom negative posts or videos on the Celestial Church of Christ, published on social media is traced to his Parish/Member/Elder/Official, shall also be held accountable.
“We must all strive to preserve the good image of the Celestial Church of Christ and our faithful members all over the world, as well as the legacies of our father and founder, Reverend Samuel Bilewu Joseph Oshoffa, just as the Holy Bible says in Genesis 1:27: “God created man in His own image” and Ephesians 5:23 confirms that Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church. We must therefore not be caught tarnishing God’s image, Christ’s image nor the image of our great church and members in public or on social media,” he submitted on behalf of the spiritual leader of the church worldwide.