Assemblies of God Bans Pastors from Marrying Outside the Denomination

The leadership of the Assemblies of God Church has issued a new directive prohibiting its pastors from marrying women who are not members of the denomination.

The decision was announced by the General Superintendent of the church, Rev. Abel Amadi, during the 2026 Leaders’ Retreat held at Evangel Camp, Okpoto, Ebonyi State.

Addressing church leaders, Rev. Amadi instructed district presbyteries to strictly enforce the policy, stressing that approval must not be granted for any pastor to marry outside the Assemblies of God.

“No pastor should be allowed to marry outside the Assemblies of God. Presbytery, you must take note of this and ensure it is not allowed,” he declared.

Guidance for Pastors

Rev. Amadi advised pastors seeking life partners to look within the denomination, encouraging them to explore different branches of the church across the country.

“If you go to Rivers State and don’t find one, go to Umuahia. If you don’t find one in Umuahia, go to Enugu. If you don’t find one in Enugu, go to Lagos. As you continue, God will provide you with a woman who will support you in ministry,” he said.

The directive applies strictly to pastors and does not affect ordinary church members.

The policy has reportedly received support from some female members of the Assemblies of God Church in Umuahia and Aba.

Speaking anonymously, the women expressed surprise that some pastors choose spouses from other denominations despite the presence of many eligible women within the Assemblies of God.

They argued that the directive would strengthen unity within the church and ensure that pastors’ families remain fully aligned with the denomination’s values and practices.

Analysts note that the policy reflects the church’s desire to preserve doctrinal consistency and reinforce loyalty among its clergy.

By restricting pastors to marrying within the denomination, the leadership may be trying to prevent potential conflicts that may arise from inter-denominational marriages, particularly in matters of worship style, doctrine, and ministry support.