We are excited for Taylor and Becca as they follow God's call to plant a new church on the north end of the South Bay. We are deeply grateful for the years they have invested in our church family.

At the same time, we believe God is continuing to shape The River into a healthy, deeply rooted church led by our team of pastors. We are excited about what God is doing amongst us, and we believe He is at work for His Kingdom to come throughout the South Bay as it is in heaven, both at the River and through Emmanuel.

Taylor and Becca are preparing to launch Emmanuel Church in the fall of 2027.  

The transition to launch Emmanuel will be gradual, and The River remains their church family during this season. We love them, are committed to walking alongside them, and are excited to support them as they prepare for what God has ahead.

Taylor will remain on The River's pastoral staff through the end of 2026, but will be freed up of his responsibilities at The River to pursue the call of God on his life for Emmanuel. Through the spring of 2027, Taylor and Becca will continue worshiping as part of The River community as they continue to develop and prepare for Emmanuel.

In the spring of 2027, we will gather for a special Sunday service to celebrate and commission Taylor, Becca, and those who are joining them in planting Emmanuel. This will be an important opportunity to honor their impact on The River, pray for them, and send them into this new work with our blessing.

Our vision for The River has not changed.

Our staff and pastors are united and excited about what God is doing in this season. We believe God is forming us into a spiritual family that follows the words and ways of Jesus, pursuing life change and cultural renewal throughout the South Bay. We want to be a people deeply rooted in Christ and radically generous with the grace God has given us—living as reverse tributaries of God's grace into our neighborhoods, workplaces, schools, and communities.

The River continues to be led by a team of pastors who share the responsibility of shepherding our church in submission to Jesus Christ, the Head of the Church. We believe shared pastoral leadership reflects the pattern we see in the New Testament and helps build a healthy church. Within that shared leadership, different pastors carry different gifts, roles, and responsibilities.

Our Teaching Team stewards The River's vision, teaching, and faithful exposition of Scripture. Significant ministry decisions and the implementation of our vision are discerned collaboratively by the Pastoral Team through Scripture, prayer, conversation, and dependence upon the Holy Spirit.

The teaching, theology, and orthodoxy of the community will be stewarded by the teaching team. This team includes Luke, James, and Brooke, as well as Todd and Bill. The ministry operations and execution of the church’s vision will remain a part of the pastoral team's communal operation and submission to the Spirit. Our pastoral team includes: Cathy, Debbie, Todd, Denise, James, Brooke, Luke, Bill, Carol, Jeremy. Our Council of Leaders will continue to carry responsibility for counsel on all major ministry operations, financial decisions, new areas of development, and direction. Our Council of Leaders includes Mike Keating, Francois Viljoen, Susan Mencinger, Kathy Johnson, and Pete Winingham.

Taylor's transition has also led our founding pastors, Todd and Denise Wendorff, to extend their time on The River's pastoral staff through 2027.

This does not change the leadership transition already underway. Todd and Denise will continue handing day-to-day leadership to the emerging leadership team while remaining actively involved in the life of The River. Their primary role will be to provide wisdom, encouragement, pastoral support, and counsel to our pastors and emerging leaders while continuing to serve in several areas of ministry.

We are deeply grateful for their continued presence and for the wisdom and encouragement they bring to The River. Their roles may continue to change, but their love and investment in this church family certainly will not.

Why are Taylor and Becca planting a church?
Over the past year, Taylor and Becca began sensing a growing call toward planting a church on the north end of the South Bay. What began as an internal stirring led them into an extended season of prayer and discernment.

As Taylor and Becca prayed, sought counsel, and shared what they were sensing with our pastors, we began discerning alongside them. Through prayer, conversation, encouragement from others, and a growing sense of peace and clarity, we came to believe together that God is leading them toward planting a church.

We are excited to see Taylor and Becca respond faithfully to what they believe God is asking of them, and we consider it a privilege for The River to help send them.

Is Taylor leaving because of conflict at The River?
No. Taylor and Becca's decision comes from a growing sense of God's call to plant a church, not from conflict or broken relationships at The River. Our pastors and staff are united in supporting them and are grateful for the opportunity to send them into this next season.

When is all of this happening?
Taylor will remain on The River's pastoral staff through December 2026.

Taylor and Becca will then continue worshiping with The River through the spring of 2027 while devoting increasing time and energy toward preparing Emmanuel for launch.

In the spring of 2027, we will gather for a special Sunday service to commission Taylor, Becca, and those joining them in the church plant.

What is the relationship between The River and Emmanuel?
Emmanuel will be a sister church to the River. The church will be planted out of the River, but will have operational independence from the River. We will remain in relational connection and support for one another - praying for each other, supporting each other, and doing ministry events together.

Some members of The River may eventually sense God's invitation to help Taylor and Becca plant Emmanuel. When that time comes, we want to approach those conversations prayerfully and generously. Our desire is not simply to build a larger River, but to participate in the growth of God's Kingdom throughout the South Bay.

What is the vision for The River? Has it changed?
Our vision has not changed. In fact, the plan to plant Emmanuel has aligned with Todd and Denise's vision when they started The River. When they began The River 20 years ago, they dreamed of church communities all along the beach cities that would develop authentic faith in Christ and lead to radical transformation in our neighborhoods. God is bringing about this vision, which has been embedded in both The River and the Jones Family.

The River will continue gathering around Jesus, investing deeply in one another, forming disciples, serving our neighbors, raising up leaders, and living as reverse tributaries of God's grace throughout the South Bay.

What does this mean for me?
Two things: Continue being The River and pray.

Continue gathering to worship. Continue investing in relationships. Continue serving our kids and students. Continue loving your neighbors. Continue practicing generosity. Continue growing in your life with Jesus.

Pray for Taylor and Becca as they prepare to plant Emmanuel. Pray for The River's pastors and leaders. Pray for both churches to flourish. And ask God how He might want to use you in this next season. Pray that God may give you direction and clarity in how you can be a part of his Kingdom coming to the South Bay.

Who can I talk to about this?
Our pastors and leaders are available to you. Please don't hesitate to reach out with questions, concerns, or simply to process the transition together.

We will also gather at The River House on Wednesday, September 2, to answer questions, talk together, and pray for The River, Taylor and Becca, and the season ahead.

We are grateful to walk through this season together and expectant for all that God has ahe