Bishop David Oyedepo, founder of Living Faith Church (also known as Winners Chapel), has addressed critics following the church’s recent decision to retire two of its vice presidents, Bishops Thomas Aremu and David Abioye, after decades of service.
According to The PUNCH, Oyedepo emphasized the need for critics to focus on their own affairs rather than question the church’s internal decisions.
“Study to be quiet and mind your business,” he advised. “It is wisdom to learn what is working and find out what makes it work. Everything works here.”
The cleric explained that the retirement of the two senior pastors aligns with the church’s operational guidelines, known as The Mandate, which was revised earlier this year.
According to the updated policy, the retirement age for pastors has been lowered from 60 to 55 years. However, Oyedepo, who founded the ministry, retains the right to serve for life.
Future leaders of the church will be limited to one or two terms of seven years, subject to approval from the Board of Trustees.
Oyedepo also noted that the church’s Administrative Policy was first reviewed in 2001, while The Mandate of 2012 underwent revisions in 2024. He described the ministry as being guided by divine order and urged Aremu to stay focused on his spiritual journey post-retirement.
“Taking a spiritual break is risky. There’s no such thing as the best today or tomorrow; what matters is your pursuit of God,” Oyedepo said, advising Aremu to remain connected to God for the continued flow of grace.
Bishop Aremu, who was the last remaining bishop of seven consecrated at the Garden of Faith in Kaduna in 1999, stated that he has no plans to establish his own ministry following his 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,” Aremu said.
Bishop Abioye’s farewell ceremony is scheduled for Friday, October 18, 2024, at the church’s Durumi branch in Abuja.
