Leaders of The Meeting House, a Toronto area megachurch with multiple locations and once one in all the biggest congregations in Canada, has shut down its public ministry, becoming a consortium of smaller congregations.
“It is with sadness that we’re required to bring the public-facing ministry of The Meeting House to an end as of August 29,” in line with a statement posted on the church’s website. “Going forward, there’ll not be churches operating programs or doing ministry under the banner of The Meeting House.”
The church’s distant sites will likely be rebranded because the “BIC Church Collective,” a gaggle of nine congregations that share preaching in addition to back-office support. Details of the brand new collective, which is a component of the Be In Christ denomination, were scant.
“If you could have questions on what is occurring at your local church in September or the longer-term vision on your location, please discuss with your local pastor,” the statement on the web site of The Meeting House advised. “They would like to have that conversation with you and work with you to construct the longer term of your local church together.”
The launch of the brand new collective comes as The Meeting House congregants proceed to reckon with the fallout from abuse allegations against its former longtime pastor, Bruxy Cavey. In late 2021, Cavey was accused of sexual misconduct and resigned just a few months later. A church investigation later alleged that his conduct had been abusive. The Meeting House also disclosed that an investigation found 38 cases of reported misconduct involving 4 pastors on the church.
Though one in all the criminal charges against Cavey was stayed in July of this yr after a court determined his right to a speedy trial had been violated, The Meeting House’s liability insurer canceled its coverage.
After shutting down its in-person meetings in June, The Meeting House began livestreaming recent sermons in August, in line with The Walrus, a Canadian magazine that has tracked The Meeting House scandal. Then, on Sept. 1, the church’s livestreaming operation was rebranded because the BIC Church Collective.
“This is Day One of our recent identity, this placeholder identity, as we walk in keeping with the Spirit into this recent and somewhat unknown future,” Jimmy Rushton, who had been a teaching pastor at The Meeting House, said in introducing the streamed service.
Jen McWilliams, now pastor of the East Toronto BIC, and a number of other other pastors listed on the BIC Church Collective website didn’t reply to email requests for comment.
“While we’re sad to see the ending of the ministry of The Meeting House, we’re committed as a denominational family to continuing God’s work on the planet each through the establishment of latest BIC churches and the impact of existing BIC congregations,” said Charles Mashinter, executive director of Be In Christ Church of Canada, in an email.
Mashinter said that the brand new BIC Church Collective was not a “rebranding of the Meeting House and that the denomination is all the time working with groups that share their convictions “to see what recent congregations might emerge.”
“Currently we’re doing this with people in several former Meeting House locations, and exploring how they may work together in a collective ministry model,” he said.
The Meeting House will proceed to gather donations to support the brand new BIC Church Collective, in line with the church’s website.
“The Meeting House continues to operate as a charity and supply tax receipts for all donations,” the web site read. “Your giving provides worthwhile financial support for brand new local church communities being established across Ontario through the BIC Church Collective.”
In his 25 years of leadership, Cavey had grown The Meeting House, which was founded as Upper Oaks Community Church, right into a congregation of greater than 5,000 meetings in 19 satellite campuses and greater than 200 home groups, in line with The Walrus.
Cavey has admitted what he called moral failings but has denied committing any crime. “I do not believe I failed legally,” he said in July after one in all the fees against him was stayed.
The Meeting House still faces legal troubles despite the top of its public ministries. The church is facing several lawsuits filed within the wake of the abuse allegations.
© Religion News Service
