Oakville based megachurch The Meeting House has announced a pause in all programmed ministry activities due to difficulties in securing necessary insurance coverage.
Effective since June 30, 2024, the church has suspended Sunday and mid-week gatherings, kids and youth programming, pastoral counselling, and home church activities, both online and in-person.
"Over the last few years, we have taken significant steps to address systemic risk and create a safe environment for staff, volunteers, and congregants," says the church's website.
"This work has received positive feedback from insurers and experts who believe our actions have been particularly rigorous and effective, and that our abuse prevention framework is now first rate among churches."
"Even with these positive changes, we recently shared the disappointing news that in light of our history we have not been able to secure some elements of the insurance coverage that we require to operate normal ministry beyond June 30."
The church says they have been unable to obtain Abuse Liability and Employment Practices Liability coverage.
One of the church's former pastors, Bruxy Cavey, was charged by Hamilton Police with two counts of sexual assault in December 2023. These charges followed 38 allegations of sexual abuse against four former pastors at the megachurch and Cavey's earlier sexual assault charges in June 2022.
Read more: Clergy sexual abuse: Grooming of the vulnerable
The Meeting House says they are working with their Transition Board to determine their next steps but have not provided a timeline for when they expect to resume normal operations.