Bishop David Oyedepo, the founder of the Living Faith Church (Winners Chapel), has advised detractors not to dispute the church’s decisions about pastor retirement.
The cleric came under fire on social media after it was revealed last week that his two vice presidents, Bishops Thomas Aremu and David Abioye, would be retiring after three and four decades in the ministry, respectively.
It was learned that their retirement is in accordance with the church’s operational standards, also known as The Mandate, which serves as its constitution.
During his lecture during Bishop Aremu’s valedictory ceremony at Winners Chapel in Orita Bashorun on Tuesday, Oyedepo emphasized the significance of focusing on one’s personal affairs.
He revealed that the church’s Administrative Policy of 1998 was reviewed in 2001, and the Mandate of 2012 was rewritten in 2024, emphasizing that the ministry follows divine order.
The amended Mandate reduced the retirement age from 60 to 55.
While the Founder, Oyedepo, has the authority to serve indefinitely, future church leaders will be limited to one or two seven-year terms, pending approval by the Board of Trustees.
The Bishop, on the other hand, warned those who wanted to bring down the ministry that they were wasting their “lives.”
He said, “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 exhorted Bishop Aremu to maintain God at the center of his life, noting that taking a spiritual break is perilous.
Bishop Oyedepo used Genesis 49:26 and argued that no one has an inheritance in a teacher or pastor.
He encouraged him 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.”
Oyedepo asked Aremu to stay connected for the continuing flow of grace, cautioning him not to be distracted by unfounded criticism.
Aremu declared in his address that he will not leave Winners Chapel to start his own church after retirement.
“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,” he said.
Aremu, a former accountant, switched to full-time ministry after a successful career in his sector.
He is the only living bishop of the seven who were consecrated at Kaduna’s Garden of Faith in November 1999.
Meanwhile, Bishop Abioye’s leaving ceremony is scheduled for Friday, October 18, 2024, in Durumi, Abuja.
