Or when they appoint their own leaders. Or when things seem to be going well, with problems at a minimum. Phaseout-oriented church planters build in their absences over time, so they can have interaction with the church throughout. They plan their disengagement. They start with short absences and move toward longer and longer ones, until they completely withdraw physically, but not relationally.
Church planters begin phaseout by stepping back from active leadership.
By this time the believers are doing evangelism, discipleship, leadership development, and organization, as well as starting new churches. The seven components surrounding phaseout begin to converge. It is now time for the church planters to distance themselves from the believers. Of course, any phaseout strategy has to start long before the church planters land on the field. Such planning gives team members the whole picture, direction, and a checklist toward closure.