Pastor Drew Shofner of the Church at Severn Run plans to retire this week after 27 years as the head of the church.

“This has been an earnest and prayerful decision,” Shofner said in a statement Monday. “This transition will happen intentionally and gradually, guided by a professional process that has been put in place.”

Shofner’s retirement is expected to be complete by the end of this year.

The Church at Severn Run operates independently but has historically been affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention, a Protestant denomination and the largest Baptist organization in the world. Located on Telegraph Road in Severn, on the site of a former historical farmhouse, the church purchased the property in 2002 and replaced the abandoned barn with a new building.

Gwen Hubbard, who has been a member of the church for 35 years, was on the search committee that helped select Shofner as lead pastor in 1998. Shofner mentored Hubbard, encouraging her to attend graduate school and become a leader in the church.

Hubbard praised Shofner’s straightforward preaching style, humble attitude and ability to bring out the best in people.

“He loves people, and he wants to see people be the best they can be,” Hubbard said. “I’ve come to love him as my pastor, my friend, my brother.”

The Church at Severn Run, which has more than 900 members and operates one of the largest food pantries in Anne Arundel County, plans to celebrate Shofner and his legacy in the coming months with his wife, Marcia, and daughter, Hannah.

Shofner and his wife are retiring to Oklahoma to be closer to family.

The Church Leadership Council will assemble a search team to find Shofner’s replacement. Once a successor is chosen, the new pastor will work alongside Shofner until he retires.

“I know we’re all sad to see him go, but we know that God’s calling him to something else,” Hubbard said.

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