Oyedepo defends Winners Chapel’s Pastoral retirement policy amid backlash

The founder and presiding bishop of Living Faith Church (Winners Chapel), Bishop David Oyedepo, has strongly defended the church’s policy on pastoral retirements, responding to recent criticisms over the retirements of long-serving leaders.

This follows the announcement of the retirements of Bishops Thomas Aremu and David Abioye, who have served the ministry for 30 and 40 years, respectively, sparking significant social media backlash.

Bishop Oyedepo, addressing the controversy, explained that these retirements are in line with the church’s operational guidelines, known as “The Mandate,” which serves as its governing constitution. He urged critics to focus on their own affairs rather than questioning the internal decisions of the church.

Speaking during a sermon at the farewell service for Bishop Aremu, held yesterday at Winners Chapel in Orita Bashorun, Oyedepo emphasized the importance of adhering to established protocols. He noted that the church’s Administrative Policy, first introduced in 1998, was comprehensively reviewed in 2001. The most recent update to The Mandate, made in 2024, reflects the church’s evolving leadership structure and sets the retirement age for church leaders at 55.

This policy change, according to Oyedepo, is designed to encourage the emergence of new leadership while preserving the church’s core values. Though Oyedepo retains the right to serve indefinitely, he clarified that future church leaders will be limited to one or two terms of seven years, pending approval by the Board of Trustees. He described this shift as part of a broader initiative aimed at ensuring that the church remains dynamic and responsive to the needs of its congregation.

Addressing the critics of the policy, Oyedepo asserted, “My advice to commentators is to study to be quiet and mind your own business. It is wise to learn from what works and understand how it functions. Everything thrives here.”

He also offered advice to Bishop Aremu, encouraging him to keep God at the center of his life post-retirement. “Taking a spiritual break can be risky,” Oyedepo warned, advocating for a mindset focused on continuous growth and spiritual pursuit. “There’s no such thing as the best today or tomorrow; what truly matters is your pursuit of God,” he added, encouraging Aremu to remain connected to the ministry to maintain the flow of divine grace.

In his response, Bishop Aremu, who transitioned from a successful career in accounting to full-time ministry, reassured the congregation about his future plans. He emphasized his loyalty to Winners Chapel, saying, “I don’t have a church, and I cannot have a church because God has not infused me with the capacity to do so. This is my church.”

Bishop David Abioye’s farewell ceremony is scheduled for Friday, October 18, 2024, in Durumi, Abuja. Bishop Oyedepo noted that this will mark another significant transition for the church as it continues to navigate the complexities of pastoral leadership and community expectations.