District Replant Strategy
On August 16th, following the morning service, a special general meeting of the membership of Five Corners Church in Salmon Arm will be held to vote on a proposed replant strategy. The following is detailed information on that strategy.
It is recommended that Five Corners Church enter into a planned, prayerful season of closure to restructure, reset, and prepare for a future church replant with renewed vision, health, and long-term sustainability.
This recommendation is not being made lightly, nor should it be understood as the ending of the ministry story of Five Corners Church. Rather, it should be viewed as a careful and strategic step of stewardship: creating the necessary space to assess the current reality, honour the church’s legacy, care well for the existing congregation, review financial and property matters, discern the needs of the surrounding community, and prepare for the possibility of a fresh ministry expression in the future.
The heart of this strategy is both missional and pastoral. It recognizes that faithful leadership sometimes requires the courage to pause, grieve, evaluate, and rebuild so that a future work can be established on a healthier and more sustainable foundation.
Pastoral Care and Shutdown Timeline
The District Office Team would work closely with the current church leadership to establish a careful descending timeline for closure that allows the congregation to be informed, cared for, and guided through the transition with clarity and compassion.
The first phase would involve communication with the board and key leaders, ensuring there is alignment around the recommendation, the reasons behind it, and the proposed pathway forward. This would include reviewing current ministry capacity, leadership needs, financial realities, attendance patterns, facility concerns, and the long-term viability of continuing in the present model.
The second phase would involve a carefully prepared congregational communication process. Church attendees would be given a clear explanation of the recommendation, the proposed timeline, and the pastoral heart behind the decision. The goal would be to avoid any sense of sudden abandonment and instead help the congregation understand that this is a guided and prayerful process.
The third phase would involve direct pastoral care for existing attendees. Guidance will be given to help individuals and families transition well into other healthy local church communities where they can continue to worship, serve, receive care, and remain connected to the broader body of Christ.
The fourth phase would involve the formal winding down of ministry operations. This would include financial review, facility assessment, administrative decisions, communication with outside partners, care for records and assets, and any required legal or denominational processes. The District Office Team would provide oversight and guidance to ensure this is handled responsibly and transparently.
Six-Month to One-Year Replant Strategy
Following the planned closure, it is recommended that the District Office Team begin a six-month to one-year replant preparation process with a potential new planting pastoral team. This timeline would allow the necessary space to move carefully rather than reactively.
During the first three months, the focus would be on assessment, prayer, and discernment. This would include reviewing the history of the church, understanding the surrounding community, identifying current ministry gaps, evaluating the facility and financial picture, and listening carefully for what kind of church expression may be most effective in the next season.
During months three to six, the planting team would begin identifying and developing a potential launch team. This team would need to be spiritually healthy, missionally aligned, and committed to the vision of a renewed church presence in the community. Leadership development, prayer gatherings, community engagement, and early vision formation would become central during this stage.
The planting team would work toward a rebranding and strategic planning process. This would include discerning a new name and identity. A renewed vision, mission, values, leadership structure, discipleship pathway, ministry priorities, and community engagement strategy would also be developed during this period.
The focus would shift toward relaunch preparation. This could include training the launch team, establishing ministry systems, preparing worship and children’s ministry structures, clarifying governance, building local community relationships, developing communication materials, and determining a realistic public launch date.
Throughout the entire process, the planting team would seek to honour the past while preparing for the future. The legacy of Five Corners Church should be treated with deep respect, gratitude, and pastoral sensitivity. At the same time, the replant must be given freedom to become a fresh and healthy expression of ministry that is shaped by renewed vision, strong leadership, sustainable systems, and a clear commitment to reaching the surrounding community with the hope of Jesus.
This intentional process would provide the best opportunity for a future church plant or replant to emerge with strength, clarity, and spiritual health. It allows the current congregation to be cared for well, the existing ministry to be concluded with dignity, and the future work to be built prayerfully and strategically for lasting Kingdom impact.