The Richmond Christian Center is moving to replace its founding pastor, Steve Parson.

Two months after emerging from bankruptcy, the fundamentalist South Side church announced Tuesday that it has begun a search for a new full-time pastor to be in place by July.

Rhonda Hickman, chair of the RCC trustee board, indicated the church would be looking for a minister who would fit with the RCC mission to “teach and preach the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Reached by phone, Pastor Parson said, “No comment” when asked for his response to the church’s decision.

Earlier this year, Pastor Parson reportedly began holding an 8 a.m. Sunday service at a Henrico County location for former church members who still want him to be their pastor.

Pastor Parson founded the RCC in 1983 in his living room, with the church growing and attracting more than 3,000 members at one point after relocating to the 200 block of Cowardin Ave.

The membership later declined, and RCC filed for bankruptcy in November 2013 after its main lender, Financial Capital Resource, sought to foreclose on the property.

Pastor Parson was removed from the pulpit 13 months ago following the federal bankruptcy court appointment of a trustee to oversee the church’s finances as RCC fended off an attempt by another church to buy its property.

Any hope that he could return to the pulpit has disappeared, Ms. Hickman explained in a statement.

She stated that the church has been unable to find another lender and has bowed to the stipulation of Foundation Capital.

The Missouri-based lender agreed to refinance the church’s outstanding $2.3 million debt under the “stipulation that Pastor Parson (would) have no contact” with the church, Ms. Hickman stated.

Ms. Hickman said the three trustees and the congregation approved the stipulation and the refinancing plan Foundation Capital offered at a meeting March 16.

To help improve its finances, RCC hired Jim Properties LLC, which has leased part of the church’s campus to various businesses and nonprofit entities, including a day care, a youth basketball program, a fitness center and the Richmond Boys Choir.

Another church also uses the RCC space for Thursday night services, Ms. Hickman stated.

Prospective applicants can find more information by calling (804) 248-9880 or (804) 230-1222.