The 20th child of the late founder of the Celestial Church of Christ, Worldwide, Olatosho Oshoffa, commonly known as Tosho, serves as the shepherd at CCC International Headquarters in Ketu, Lagos. In a conversation with IMOLEAYO OYEDEYI, he addresses various contentious issues surrounding the church and its founder, the late Bilewu Oshoffa.
What is your relationship to the CCC founder, the late SBJ Oshoffa?
My name is Olatosho Mathew Oshoffa. By God’s grace, I am the 10th son and 20th child of the late CCC founder. Thus, I proudly identify as Oshoffa’s son.
There has been ongoing controversy regarding the CCC founder, particularly concerning his purported number of wives and children. Could you provide clarity on this matter?
This is no longer a private matter. My father passed away on September 10, 1985, leaving behind 13 wives and 53 children. Despite claims of a higher number, we, the children, know our true count. We maintain unity and love within the family, regardless of our numbers. While there are 53 of us, we stand together in solidarity and harmony.
How do all 53 children of the CCC founder manage to maintain such strong connections and unity?
Our father instilled in us a sense of unity by encouraging us to identify as his children, rather than distinguishing ourselves by our mothers. This familial bond remains unbroken, even after his passing. Today, I still regard the wives younger than my mother as maternal figures due to the love Oshoffa fostered among us. We remain united as Oshoffa’s children.
Considering the biblical injunction that a Bishop should be the husband of one wife, do you think critics of polygamous religious leaders have a valid point?
In addressing this, it’s important to recognize that Paul’s counsel regarding marriage was advisory. Throughout biblical history, many prophets had multiple wives. Furthermore, if the number of wives were grounds for disqualification, my father, who had three wives before his calling, would have been ineligible to found CCC. Yet, the longevity and strength of the church testify to its divine origin. Thus, condemning polygamous leaders lacks merit, especially when compared to those with one wife who engage in extramarital affairs. Currently, there is no CCC doctrine mandating monogamy among clergy.
Does this mean polygamy is permitted among CCC shepherds?
Presently, polygamy is not prohibited among CCC clergy. However, future directives may alter this stance. As of now, there are no CCC regulations restricting polygamous marriages among pastors or shepherds.
Several pastors claim to be the authentic spiritual heads of the Celestial Church. What is your perspective on this?
Similar to the early apostolic struggles and historical disputes within other religious institutions, CCC faced challenges in succession after its founder’s passing. This is a natural aspect of organizational evolution, and over time, a unified leadership will emerge, as witnessed in other longstanding religious traditions.
