The Closing of Severn River Church -- Introduction

INTRODUCTION

Just over four years ago I rallied people to be part of an exciting church plant called Severn River Church. I asked for their generosity and sacrifice, for them to leave what they knew, and to buy in to the vision that God had put on my heart and me as their leader. And now just four years later they needed me to lead them in a different way. If you would have told me that within a four year span this church would have opened only to close I would have never believed it. Leading the closure of a church is not an easy thing. There are many pieces that are in play, but most difficult to navigate are the relationships of everyone involved. People are precious, and helping them deal with the loss of a church was something that stretched and challenged me.

This essay is a personal reflection of the events and lessons I learned in leading Severn River Church to its closure at the end of 2010. It is my hope that sharing the process I led will be a benefit to others. When closure became an obvious end, I searched for books on the subject and found none. I also looked for procedural help from my ministry network and found none available. In the last decade we have seen in the Assemblies of God fellowship, and among other fellowships, a resurgence in the promotion of planting churches. The law of averages would suggest that with an increase of church plants, there will be a corresponding number of unsuccessful plants. Guidelines and procedures should be in place for this group to help the planter lead the congregation through the difficult stages of closure. It is my view that planters should not abandon failing plants as is often the case, but should give thought, energy, and attention to leading their congregation though this part of the lifecycle of the church. I will be sharing my experience with reflection on the involved parties listed as follows: my story, responsible authorities, and the congregation.