Deeper Life Church Abolishes Six-Month Courtship Rule, Pastor Kumuyi Says

In a major policy shift, Pastor William Kumuyi, General Superintendent of Deeper Christian Life Ministry, has announced that the church’s mandatory six-month courtship period is no longer compulsory.

The declaration was made during the 2025 Global Family and Marriage Conference, signaling a move toward greater flexibility in the church’s marriage guidelines.

Pastor Kumuyi explained that the six-month courtship rule, long regarded as a standard practice, was introduced primarily for practical reasons—to give couples sufficient time to understand each other. However, he emphasized that the rule is not biblically mandated. “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,” he said.

The church has also lifted previous restrictions on courtship visitations. Women are now permitted to visit men during the courtship period, provided they are accompanied by a church elder.

This adjustment is intended to allow couples to deepen their understanding of each other while adhering to church values.

On the role of marriage committees, Pastor Kumuyi clarified that these bodies exist to provide guidance rather than to exercise authority over members. “Marriage committees should not exercise an authority that God has not given them. This is just church organization, not divine law,” he explained, underscoring that such committees are administrative tools rather than biblical mandates.

The pastor stressed that members should differentiate between church-established guidelines and divine instructions. While administrative rules may change to suit practical needs, scriptural commandments remain immutable.
These reforms mark a significant shift in Deeper Life’s approach to marriage, reflecting a balance between spiritual principles and practical considerations in church administration.