Retirement of Pastors: Mind Your Business, Oyedepo Tells Critics

Bishop David Oyedepo, founder of Living Faith Church (Winners Chapel), has called on critics to refrain from questioning the church’s decision on the retirement of pastors.
The clergy faced criticism on social media last week after reports surfaced that two vice-presidents, Bishop Thomas Aremu and Bishop David Abioye, were retiring after completing 30 and 40 years of ministry.
Their retirement was learnt to be in accordance with the church’s operating guidelines, also known as the The Mandate, which serves as the church’s constitution.
Oyedepo, who delivered the sermon at Bishop Aremu’s farewell service at Winners Chapel, Orita-Bashorun, on Tuesday, stressed the importance of focusing on oneself.
He said the 1998 church management policy was revised in 2001 and the 2012 mandate was revised to 2024, emphasizing that the ministry is run in accordance with God’s mandate.
The revised mandate saw the retirement age raised from 60 to 55 years.
Founder Oyedepo retains the right to life service, but future church leaders will be limited to one or two seven-year terms, pending approval by the board of directors.
But the bishop warned those who want the mission abolished that they are wasting “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 advised Bishop Aremu to keep God at the centre of his life, adding that taking a spiritual break is risky.
Quoting the Bible in Genesis 49:26, Bishop Oyedepo said that no one has an inheritance in a teacher or pastor.
He urged 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 further advised Aremu to remain connected for the continued flow of grace, advising him not to be distracted by baseless criticism.
Earlier in his speech, Aremu said that he had no intention of leaving Winners Chapel to establish 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.
Didactic Information Hut reports that Bishop Aremu, a former accountant, progressed into full-time ministry following a successful career in his field.
He is noted as the last surviving bishop among the seven consecrated at the Garden of Faith in Kaduna in November 1999.
Meanwhile, the farewell ceremony for Bishop Abioye, who was also retired is to hold on Friday, 18th October 2024, at Durumi, Abuja.