Breaking: Two Senior Pastors of Bishop David Oyedepo’s Church to Retire After Decades of Service
In a major development, two of the top leaders of Bishop David Oyedepo’s Living Faith Church, also known as Winners Chapel, are set to retire after serving for over four and three decades respectively. According to multiple sources in the church, Bishops David Abioye and Thomas Aremu will step down as part of the church’s revised retirement policy, which now requires leaders to retire at 55.
The development is a significant one, particularly in light of the church’s operational manual, The Mandate, which was revised to bring about a change in the retirement age. The shift is aimed at promoting youthful leadership and ensuring a smooth transition of power.
A church member who spoke to our correspondent, requesting anonymity due to a lack of authorisation to speak to the press, revealed that the retirement was part of a new law in the church, which allows only the founder, Bishop Oyedepo, to remain in office for life. Our source also disclosed that one of the two bishops has been considering leaving for some time, so this is not news to some church members.
Efforts to verify the development with the church’s media officials were unsuccessful, as they did not respond to calls or messages sent via WhatsApp.
Bishop Abioye, 63, is the current Senior Pastor of Living Faith Church, Goshen City, Abuja, while Bishop Aremu, 67, is the leader of LFC Basorun in Ibadan, Oyo State. Both men have been instrumental in the growth and expansion of the church, and their departure is likely to have a significant impact on the church’s leadership structure.
Valedictory services have been scheduled for both bishops, with Bishop Abioye’s farewell service set to take place on October 18, 2024, in Durumi, Abuja, and Bishop Aremu’s on October 15, 2024, in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The development is a significant chapter in the life of the church, and its members are likely to be eager to bid farewell to the departing leaders and welcome new leaders who will continue to build on the foundations laid by Bishop Oyedepo.
