As your elected leadership, the Session has been working faithfully over the past seven months to ensure the Great Commission—to go forth and make disciples—remains our guiding principle.
Throughout this journey, we have pursued every resource available through the EPC. While those avenues have closed, we believe that in God’s providence, a new opportunity has opened! It is one that we see as a welcome solution for Fairview-- an external church re-plant outside the EPC. To help you understand what is meant by an external church re-plant, Luke Johnston author of If it Dies puts it this way:
“The process by which members of a dying congregation discern and follow God’s leading to joyfully submit their church’s current and future ministry to an outside sending church and its leadership. All parties would work together to begin a new church for a new season of gospel ministry in their community.”
Our desire has always been to see God’s kingdom grow and flourish here in Glenmoore. Yet we must also recognize the reality before us: our church membership has been declining and aging for decades. With most of our congregation over the age of 70, we lack the capacity to develop and sustain programs that attract and serve young families, ministries essential for long-term church health and growth.
But God is not finished with His work here!
We believe He is calling us to a new season—a rebirth of ministry in this place. We invite you to envision a future where children fill the hallways, families gather in worship, and encounter Jesus in fresh and powerful ways.
We have been in extensive discussion with Providence Church in West Chester. Providence has a strong desire to plant a new congregation in this area. Many of their members live nearby, and they have been prayerfully searching for the right location to inhabit. After meeting with their planting team several times, we have sensed strong unity, shared theology, and mutual mission.
While we are still conducting due diligence and do not yet have all the answers, we are confident that God is interceding and directing us toward this partnership. Our hope is that this church plant will carry forward God’s work in our community and reach the next generations with the Good News of Jesus Christ.
There are still many logistical details to work out, but both groups are approaching this collaboration with a spirit of openness and trust. We will adhere to Presbytery guidance and timetables in this process. The next step will involve our congregation having a meeting with Presbytery representatives to begin the 3- 6 month process to disassociate from the EPC denomination with the goal to celebrate with Providence in the sanctuary on Easter Sunday as a nondenominational church replant. We ask for your continued prayers as we work together and seek God’s guidance.
Let us see this not as an ending, but as a transformation—like a caterpillar becoming a butterfly—a beautiful rebirth that brings new life and joy to Glenmoore.
In the coming weeks we will have many opportunities for conversations and discussion as we all reflect on today’s announcement.
What about the cemetery, can I still have my funeral in this sanctuary? The cemetery is a separate entity from the church, funerals will be permitted, Providence is aware of the cemetery, and it would like to keep the grounds beautiful. They want to honor FEPC commitments. We have an ongoing perpetual care responsibility with the cemetery and during the replant process we will work towards a way for the Fairview Cemetery to continue, however the structure is still to be determined. Providence wants to honor the Fairview legacy.
What happens to our staff? They have been informed and if interested, hopefully find a place within Providence.
How do Prov's beliefs compare to Fairview's? We were very encouraged when we analyzed the similarities and differences of our Essentials of Faith with Prov's Core Beliefs. View Summary Here
Will our membership automatically shift over to Providence? no, everyone is welcome, they do not have membership as we know it
Does Providence require new or prospective members to complete a formal membership class as part of the integration process? Prospective members are encouraged to participate in the newcomer luncheon that provides an overview of the Providence story and to meet Pastors and staff. Prospective members are then required to attend a three week Discover Prov class where there is a deep dive into each of our core beliefs and positions. During these classes prospective members can ask clarifying questions regarding Prov
What if I want to remain in the EPC? if you don't want to be part of Providence- Forks and Grace Covenant are nearby and we can transfer membership
Where will all Fairview's money go? We may not have much to distribute since our giving and membership are down, These are points I expect we will get legal guidance on, but we should be able to retain control. I think the only claim EPC might have is if they had started FEPC which they did not.
What about the missions we support? we will inform them as soon as it is appropriate. Providence will be continuing Missions support, but the specific organizations supported would be re-evaluated.
Are they going to pay us for this building? No
Will they have printed bulletins for worship? they usually don't have printed bulletins
Will all worship be contemporary? yes. Prov's worship style will be different from the style we are used to here. However, their Core Beliefs are very aligned to our Essentials of the Faith.
Can we still have our bible study groups and meet here? yes, but it would be nice to invite Providence members Group Continuity: Providence is open to current Fairview members retaining their regular cadence of Bible studies. Providence has a very strong culture of weekly small groups (called Life Groups) that occur in various locations and times in the surrounding area. Providence would be open to meeting on Sunday mornings for Sunday school prior to service. Providence would also encourage current Fairview members to find a small group that meets in their prospective area and to eventually go through life group training so they can lead these small groups at a future time.
What happens with all our documents? Providence representatives thus far have indicated interest in respecting and preserving Fairview legacy and History.
Do we still need to give our offering? yes, until this goes through we still have a building to run, staff to pay, missions to support etc.)
Will we get to meet some of the Providence leadership? (Yes, they are anxious to meet our congregation
What will happen to the Community Garden? hopefully that will continue
Why did we spend all the money to update the sanctuary and first floor? We assessed needs across ministries, consulted leaders and members, obtained multiple bids, and prioritized renovations that directly affect worship. A welcoming, safe, and accessible space improves first impressions, keeps us engaged, and helps visitors feel comfortable returning. Better lighting, sound, classrooms, and common spaces improve worship quality, our nursery, and our meeting spaces. Providence visitors have been very impressed with our renovations and while their worship style is different I think they will likely leverage the benefits of the renovations.
Is there any way we can remain a Presbyterian church? yes, but we would continue to see the slow death of our church
What will happen with our current leadership: Elders, Deacons, Trustees? When the church dissolves there are no Fairview leaders
What happens if we don't get enough votes to leave the EPC? We will need to wait another year to take a vote, by then we may not have another opportunity like Prov North; we may rent our building to Prov for a year and we may like what we see, or we may die a slow death and the building could get sold to a developer or a non Christian place of worship
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