10/30/2025
We wanted to share this important update with you from Eddie Rester:
Dear Friends,
Last night, members of the Lovers Lane Executive Committee met with the Walnut Hill leadership for an important and prayerful conversation about a decision regarding the future of the Walnut Hill Church campus. After much discernment, the Lovers Lane Executive Committee has made the decision that worship and other church ministries will conclude at the Walnut Hill campus by the end of the year, with the campus closing completely by mid-2026.
This decision was not made lightly. Over the past several months, we have prayed, listened, and sought wisdom from other multi-site congregations. We have asked again and again what faithfulness to our mission looks like in this season. While this is a hard step, we believe it is the right one — not an ending, but the closing of one chapter and the beginning of another as we come together fully as one church family at Lovers Lane.
We want you to know that ministry will continue in meaningful ways:
All members of the Walnut Hill campus are encouraged to continue worshiping with Lovers Lane at one of the worship services at the Inwood campus.
Adult Sunday school classes currently meeting at Walnut Hill will be invited to continue meeting in space at Lovers Lane’s Inwood campus on Sunday mornings.
We will work intentionally to ensure that the children of Walnut Hill are lovingly welcomed into the children’s and student ministries at the Inwood campus.
The Creative School will continue its work through the end of the 2025–2026 school year. Our leadership is committed to helping the Creative School to find a new venue.
The Deaf Ministry will continue meeting at Walnut Hill while they work to find a new, long-term space by mid-year.
We will be working closely with other ministries and community groups who meet at Walnut Hill to help them discern their next faithful steps.
We intend for our partnerships with Thomas Jefferson High School and Cigarroa Elementary School to remain a vital part of our shared mission.
In the months ahead, we will prayerfully and thoughtfully make plans for the future of the buildings, property, and all that has been part of this campus, including its eventual sale.
As we approach the final Sundays at Walnut Hill, we encourage you to take part in these closing weeks of worship. They will be a time to celebrate the church’s long and faithful ministry, to give thanks for the lives touched here, and to trust that the same God who has led us this far will guide us into what comes next.
Most of all, we want to invite and encourage you to begin the next chapter with us at Lovers Lane at the Inwood campus. You are a cherished part of this family, and we look forward to welcoming you — into worship, service, and community together.
We know this news brings many emotions and questions. Please know that your pastors and leaders are here to listen and walk with you through every step of this transition. We will continue to share updates, opportunities, and timelines in the weeks to come.
As we take these next steps, we want to create space for listening and conversation. You are invited to join some of our church leaders for one of two upcoming listening sessions:
Sunday, November 2, 2025 at 12:30 p.m.
Wednesday, November 5, 2025 at 6:00 p.m.
With deep gratitude for all God has done — and for all that lies ahead,
Eddie Rester
Lead Pastor, Lovers Lane UMC
