By Peter Dansu A long-standing dispute over seniority within the Shepherd hierarchy of the Celestial Church of Christ Canada Diocese has fi...
By Peter Dansu
A long-standing dispute over seniority within the Shepherd hierarchy of the Celestial Church of Christ Canada Diocese has finally been brought to an end following an intervention by the Pastor, Rev Pastor E.M.F. Oshoffa.
According to a source familiar with developments in Canada, who pleaded anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, the disagreement involving Assistant Most Superior Evangelist Rufus Adeoba and Assistant Most Superior Evangelist Kunle Lawal had persisted for years, with seniority traditionally determined by factors including length of service and the period a Shepherd was received and sanctified into the fold.
The matter came before Rev Pastor Oshoffa during his recent visit to Canada. On September 24, 2026, the Pastor reportedly convened a meeting with senior clergy members at the hotel where he was staying and informed the two senior Shepherds that he had decided to bring the matter to a final resolution.
In an unusual process, the Pastor reportedly requested a sheet of paper, divided it into two equal portions and instructed that the numbers one and two be written separately on the two pieces. The papers were then folded and placed in a bowl.
The Pastor reportedly prayed over the papers for more than 15 minutes, making reference to Acts Chapter 1 and explaining that he was seeking divine direction in resolving the long-running disagreement.
Following the prayer, AMSE Adeoba and AMSE Lawal were each asked to pick one of the folded papers. Adeoba picked number two, while Lawal picked number one.
The Pastor subsequently declared that the outcome of the exercise would determine the order of seniority between the two clergy.
The decision was later publicly announced on Sunday, September 27, during the 42nd Annual Adult Harvest Thanksgiving of Celestial Church of Christ Goshen Cathedral, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada.
Addressing the congregation and the wider Canada Diocese, Rev Pastor Oshoffa reportedly stated that the exercise represented his final decision on the matter and directed that the issue should no longer be reopened for further debate.
Consequently, AMSE Kunle Lawal was pronounced senior to AMSE Rufus Adeoba based on the outcome of the exercise.
The pronouncement is expected to provide a clear order of seniority between the two senior Shepherds and bring an end to the years of disagreement surrounding the matter within the Canada Diocese.a
The development has effectively placed the long-running seniority dispute under a final directive from the Pastor, with members of the clergy expected to respect the order going forward.
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