The General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry, Pastor William Kumuyi, has announced significant adjustments to the church’s long-standing marriage and courtship guidelines, clarifying that some were based on church administration rather than direct biblical instruction.
Speaking at the 2025 Global Family and Marriage Conference, held from Friday to Sunday, as monitored by GospelRaw, Pastor Kumuyi explained that the rule which previously restricted women from visiting men they intended to marry has now been lifted. Couples may now meet during their courtship, provided they are accompanied by an elder.
He also addressed the church’s once-mandatory six-month courtship period, stating that it was never a scriptural requirement but a human arrangement.
“We just felt you need some time to know one another. And then we said one month will be too short, two months too short. So, why not six months? But it is not from the Bible,” Kumuyi said.
He emphasized that the timeline should not be seen as rigid:
“Six months is all right, but it’s not something inflexible. If we change it to three months, we’re not changing the Bible, because six months is not in the Bible.”
Pastor Kumuyi further clarified the role of the church’s marriage committees, noting that they were created to offer guidance and administrative support, not to replace biblical 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 explained.
He also cautioned leaders against overstepping boundaries, reminding them that such committees exist to support couples, not to impose laws that go beyond scripture.
Kumuyi concluded by urging Christians to distinguish between God’s commandments and church traditions, warning that the two should not be confused.
