Speaking during the 2025 Global Family and Marriage
Conference on Sunday, Kumuyi said the mandatory six-month courtship period
introduced by the church is no longer compulsory.

He explained that the requirement was based on the church’s
tradition and not a biblical instruction.

“We just felt you needed 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,” he said.

“As a Christian, you need to be so mature that you know the
difference between the law of God and the principles in the church.

“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.”

The cleric also announced the cancellation of a ban that
previously prevented ladies from visiting men they intended to marry.

He said such visits may now take place during courtship,
provided an elder accompanies the couple.

Kumuyi emphasised the importance of distinguishing between
God’s commandments and church traditions.

He added that marriage committees in Deeper Life were introduced
only to guide couples, not as a substitute for the Bible.

“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.