The President of the Association of Christian Theologians (ACTS), Professor Kunle Macaulay, has expressed disagreement with the General Superintendent of Deeper Life Bible Church, Pastor William Kumuyi, over his stance on church successorship.
Pastor Kumuyi, in a recent speech titled “My Successor,” emphasized that God, not human leaders, determines church successors. Drawing from biblical examples, he cited the transition from Moses to Joshua, urging Deeper Life leaders to rely on divine guidance rather than a structured succession plan.
However, Macaulay countered this position, arguing that the Christian church differs from Israel in leadership structure. He maintained that Christian leaders are responsible for training and mentoring successors to ensure continuity, a practice upheld by Orthodox and Pentecostal churches in Nigeria for over a century.
Citing historical challenges, he referenced the leadership crisis in the Celestial Church of Christ following the death of its founder, Rev. Samuel Oshoffa, in 1985. He also pointed to the leadership transitions at Fountain of Life Church and Church of God Mission, where successors emerged through different processes.
While acknowledging the role of the Holy Spirit in leadership selection, Macaulay stressed the importance of structured leadership training, academic seminars, and mentorship to prepare future church leaders. He warned that failure to plan could lead to crises and mismanagement.
He concluded by raising concerns over longtime church workers being overlooked for leadership, stating that the quality of leadership in Nigerian churches will determine their spiritual success or failure.
