Pastor William Kumuyi, General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry, announced significant modifications to some of the church’s long-standing marriage rules, clarifying that these were administrative guidelines rather than scriptural mandates. He made the announcement during the 2025 Global Family and Marriage Conference.
Two major changes highlighted include the lifting of the church’s previous ban preventing women from visiting men they intend to marry, now allowing such visits provided an elder accompanies the couple to supervise. Additionally, the formerly mandatory six-month courtship period has been abolished. Kumuyi explained that this timeframe was a practical guideline originally set for couples to get to know each other better but was never mandated by scripture.
Kumuyi urged members to distinguish between divine laws and human administrative principles to avoid confusing church traditions with God’s commands. His reforms have sparked mixed reactions, with some members embracing the liberation from rigid rules while others view the changes cautiously, believing the previous rules encouraged deeper consideration before marriage.