Bishop David Oyedepo, founder of the Living Faith Church (Winners Chapel), has defended the church’s decision to retire its pastors, specifically his two vice presidents, Bishops Thomas Aremu and David Abioye, who will be retiring after serving three and four decades in the ministry.
Oyedepo faced criticism on social media after the retirement announcements were made, but he stressed that the decision is in line with the church’s operational guidelines, known as The Mandate, which serves as the church’s constitution.
The revised Mandate has changed the retirement age from 60 to 55, while Oyedepo retains the right to serve for life. Future church leaders will be restricted to one or two terms of seven years, pending approval by the Board of Trustees.
Oyedepo warned critics, saying, “My advice to commentators is to study to be quiet and mind your business. It is wisdom to learn what is working and find out what makes it work. Everything works here.”
He also said, “You are wasting your lives” to those wishing for the ministry’s downfall.
Bishop Aremu assured that he has no intention of leaving Winners Chapel to establish his own church after retirement, 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.”
Oyedepo urged Aremu to maintain a mindset focused on growth, saying, “There’s no such thing as the best today or tomorrow; what matters is your pursuit of God.”
Bishop Abioye’s farewell ceremony is set for Friday, 18th October 2024, at Durumi, Abuja.
