-Deborah Akinyosoye
Following their imminent retirement as Vice Presidents of Bishop David Oyedepo’s Living Faith Church, also known as Winners Chapel, Bishops David Abioye and Thomas Aremu may have several roles open to them within the church’s structure, according to ChurchTimes.
Several church sources, including a pastor who spoke on condition of anonymity due to not being authorised to speak to the media, confirmed to The PUNCH on Thursday the planned retirement of Bishops Abioye and Aremu.
The valedictory services for the two bishops are set for October 15 and 18, 2024.
Aremu will be honoured in Ibadan, Oyo State, while Bishop Abioye’s farewell will take place in Abuja.
The publication reports that both Bishops have surpassed the church’s mandatory retirement age of 60, with Abioye at 63 and Aremu at 67.
However, beyond their retirement, findings from Church Times indicate that the church has five potential roles available for them, should they choose to accept any.
The roles are outlined in the church’s operational manual, The Mandate, which was published in 2012.
- They could be assigned to a local assembly, not beyond a zonal church as resident pastors.
- They could be assigned oversight responsibility over a given location within or outside Nigeria.
- They could be appointed to serve in any of the church’s educational institutions or any department where they may choose to apply for such vacancies.
- They may also be appointed to serve in any of the departments in the headquarters where they have expertise.
- The final option is for them to be appointed revivalists, or as pastors in the Revival Mission Initiative Department.
However, these appointments are not permanent and must be renewed annually.
While it’s uncertain whether the bishops will pursue these opportunities, both have held supervisory roles for mission work before their retirement.
Abioye, who currently serves as the Senior Pastor of Living Faith Church, Goshen City, Abuja, first crossed paths with Bishop David Oyedepo in 1979.
In 1987, he led one of the church’s five pioneer branches and was consecrated in 1993 at the age of 32.
Aremu, after a career in accounting, transitioned to full-time ministry and was among the seven bishops consecrated in November 1999 at the Garden of Faith in Kaduna.