The General Superintendent of Deeper Christian Life Ministry, Pastor William Kumuyi, has announced significant changes to some of the church’s longstanding marriage regulations, emphasizing that these are administrative guidelines, not divine commands.
Speaking at the 2025 Global Family and Marriage Conference, Kumuyi urged Christians to distinguish between biblical laws and church rules, noting that while God’s commandments are immutable, church regulations can be adjusted to meet practical needs.
Among the major changes, Kumuyi lifted the church’s restriction that previously barred a woman from visiting the man she intends to marry. He stated that couples may now visit each other during courtship, provided an elder accompanies them.
The cleric also addressed the church’s traditional six-month courtship rule, clarifying that it was introduced purely as a practical guideline. “Six months is all right, but it is not something inflexible. If we change it to three months, we’re not changing the Bible, because six months is not in the Bible,” he said.
On the role of marriage committees, Kumuyi warned church leaders that the committees are meant to guide members, not to exercise authority. “There’s no marriage committee in the New Testament. We created it to help you, not because we can give you a chapter and a verse. It is church administration,” he said.
The announcement signals a notable shift in Deeper Life Church’s marriage practices, highlighting Pastor Kumuyi’s focus on differentiating church traditions from biblical teachings.
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Good move