Church of the Lord (Aladura)

The Church of the Lord (Aladura) is an African Initiated Church founded by Josiah Olunowo Ositelu in 1925, and inaugurated in 1930 in Ogere Remo, Ogun State, Nigeria.[1] Ositelu was born on 15 May 1900 at Ogere, ?ijebu-Remo, Ogun State in Nigeria.[2]

"Aladura" in Yoruba means "owners of prayer", "Prayer Fellowship" or "The Praying People". They always wear white.

Also known as Aladura churches, they believe in the power of praying and in faith healing and various elements associated with Pentecostalism. Most of the founders of the churches were associated with Anglicanism, though some Methodists joined the movement as well. The churches oppose traditional African religion, and sometimes burn cult images as idols. They oppose polygamy and witchcraft. In contrast with Kimbanguism, the churches tend to avoid politics and focus instead on the holiness movement.

Rufus Okikiola Ositelu is Archbishop And Metropolitan of the Archdiocese of Nigeria and the Primate of The Church of the Lord (Aladura) Organisation Worldwide

History

The First (Aladura: Ositelu) Disciples on 27 July 1930

Titus Olatunde, Joseph Aromuti, Benjamin Afolabi (from Faith Tabernacle Church, Ijebu Ode), Layide Akinyele, etc.

The first Tabborrar Festival was 10–22 August 1937.

Evangelism – (Cities Ollunowo Ositelu pioneered)

Ogere (the Fountain), Ibadan, Abeokuta, Sabongidda Orra (where the Hymn "Ati 'Segun de Isegun", and "Angel Ollusegun" derived – (i.e. "from Vic-to-ry unto Vic-tory"), Ijebu Ode, Aiyepe, Sagamu, Ijebu Igbo, Sobe, etc.

Ositelu went on missionary journeys throughout Nigeria, Liberia, Ghana and Sierra Leone.

Supporters claim that Ollunowo Ositelu demonstrated God's Powers through miracles, healing, the Gospel, as well as victory and power over Satan and evil powers.

Owoade Adeleke Adejobi

Emmanuel Owoade Adeleke Adejobi succeeded Ollunowo Ositelu as the Head of the Church of the Lord (Aladura) on 7 May 1967.

During the Mount Tabborrar Festival on 22 August 1945, Ollunowo Ositelu read a message he claimed to have received from God on 18 August 1945:

"Adeleke Adejobi is the Gbolahan (Torch Bearer) of the Church of the Lord Aladura".

Ollunowo Ositelu also promoted and appointed Adeleke Adejobi prophet and apostle on the Mount on the same day, and pronounced that Adeleke Adejobi would be his successor.

In January 1966, presiding over the first International Churches Assembly at Ogere, Ollunowo Ositelu read again in his address his vision of 18 August 1945 in which he said God told him that Adeleke Adejobi was to be his successor. Ositelu confirmed before the house his implicit faith, confidence and trust in Adeleke Adejobi, and declared him his successor.

Josiah Ollunowo Ositelu died in July 1966.

On Sunday, 7 May 1967, Adeleke Adejobi was inaugurated as the second Primate of the Church of the Lord Aladura.

Tenets

The Six Tenets of the church can be described as:

  • Pentecostal in Power
  • Prophetic in Ministry
  • Biblical in Pattern
  • Evangelical in Mission
  • Ecumenical in Outlook and
  • Social in Responsibility[3]

Affiliations

In 1996 the Church hosted a WCC Consultative Meeting with African Instituted Churches at Ogere-Remo, Ogun State, Nigeria

In 2010 the Primate of the Church of the Lord (Aladura) Worldwide [TCLAW] , Rufus Okikiola Ositelu, was proclaimed and inaugurated as the Pope of the Aladura Communion Worldwide [ACW], with style "His Holiness, Pope Dr. Rufus Ositelu I".

Provincial offices
  • Lome, Togo
  • Kumasi, Ghana
  • Wellington, Freetown, Sierra Leone
  • London, England
  • Bronx, New York, United States of America
  • Frankfurt am Main, Germany
  • Sevila, Spain
  • Luxembourg
  • Griffen Glen Way, Republic of Ireland

See also

References and Bibliography
  1. Journey So Far, ISBN 9789789004775; Publication - TCLAW Publishers, 2009.
  2. African Instituted Churches, ISBN 3-8258-6087-6, LIT-Verlag Muenster-Hamburg-London, 2002, page-119
  3. Journey So Far, ISBN 9789789004775; Publication - TCLAW Publishers, 2009.
  • Rufus Okikiolaolu Olubiyi Ositelu, African Instituted Churches: Diversities, Growth, Gifts, Spirituality and Ecumenical Understanding of African Initiated Churches, Series no.:18 Beiträge zur Missionswissenschaft und interkulturellen Theologie Bd. 18, 2002, 232 Pages., br., ISBN 3-8258-6087-6
  • John S. Pobee and Gabriel Olusegun Ositelu, African Initiatives in Christianity: The growth, gifts and diversities of indigenous African churches, A challenge to the ecumenical movement, Risk Book Series no.: 83, Geneva : WCC Publications, 1998, 73 Pages, br., ISBN 2-8254-1277-5
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