Andy Stanley, the longtime pastor and founder of North Point Ministries, told congregants he plans to step down from his leadership positions at the Alpharetta-based megachurch network in 2027, closing out more than three decades at the helm. Stanley said he will leave his roles as senior pastor of North Point Ministries and lead pastor of North Point Community Church, capping a run that began when he founded the church 31 years ago.
Stanley made the announcement in a video posted by North Point Ministries, as reported by FOX 5 Atlanta. He said he and his wife Sandra had discussed his future for more than four years before deciding the timing was right to hand off leadership and spend more time with his grandchildren. “I want to be able to say yes to my grandchildren without having to check my schedule,” Stanley said, according to the station's report.
A Successor Who Started as an Intern
Stanley recommended Joel Thomas, North Point Ministries' current executive director, to become the network's next senior pastor. Thomas's roots at North Point run deep: he began his ministry career as the organization's very first intern in 1998, according to Christian Post. Thomas later pastored Mission Community Church in Arizona from 2015 to 2021 before rejoining North Point to lead its Buckhead Church campus, and he previously served as lead pastor of North Point Community Church before being named Executive Director in 2023, the outlet reports.
Roughly 50,000 eligible congregants will get to vote on Thomas's nomination, per the same account relayed by the station. To cast a ballot between October 18 and October 30, congregants must be at least 18 years old and have participated in a small group, volunteered, given financially at least four times, or checked in a child over the past 18 months — a participation-based standard Christian Post notes North Point uses instead of a traditional formal membership roll. Vote results are expected November 1, and if approved, Thomas would assume the senior pastor role on January 1, 2027.
A Phased Handoff Through Mid-2027
Under the timeline, Stanley would remain lead pastor of North Point Community Church until May 2027, with Thomas expected to take over that role the following month. The step-by-step schedule, outlined by Worship Ideas, gives Stanley a multi-month window to remain in the pulpit even as the executive handoff to Thomas begins. Stanley said the planned transition is intended to provide stability and position the ministry for continued growth under new leadership.
Despite stepping back from administrative duties, Stanley isn't leaving church life behind. “I'm retiring from my job, but I'm not retiring from ministry,” he said, adding that he plans to continue preaching at North Point churches and serve as an ambassador for the ministry. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that Stanley also may remain involved with North Point's board of elders, a role that would let him offer continuity while freeing up time for family. Under North Point's governing rules, the board of elders can remove a senior pastor, but appointing a successor requires congregational approval.
Three Decades of Growth and Controversy
Stanley founded North Point Community Church in November 1995 after departing First Baptist Church of Atlanta, holding services in rented facilities before opening the flagship Alpharetta campus in 1998, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Roughly 50,000 congregants are eligible to vote; the network spans eight Atlanta-area campuses and is the sixth-largest megachurch network in the country, the paper reports.
Stanley's father, Dr. Charles Stanley, served as senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Atlanta for nearly 50 years before taking emeritus status in 2020 and passing away at age 90 in April 2023, according to CBN News. The elder Stanley was also a long-serving televangelist and former president of the Southern Baptist Convention, a legacy that looms over his son's own departure from the pulpit he built independently of that denominational tradition.
Stanley's tenure also included moments of national controversy. In September 2023, North Point hosted the Unconditional Conference, a two-day event for parents of LGBTQ+ children featuring affirming speakers, which Christian Post notes sparked widespread theological debate among evangelical leaders. Following criticism from Southern Baptist leaders, Stanley defended the event in an October 2023 sermon addressing public critiques from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary president Albert Mohler, arguing that churches must maintain supportive environments to keep LGBTQ individuals connected to their faith, according to the Washington Times.
Part of a Broader Succession Trend
Stanley's decision to step down at age 68 echoes that of Saddleback Church founder Rick Warren, who retired in 2022 at the same age, according to Baptist News Global. Both exits are planned leadership transitions by prominent megachurch founders. North Point's structured two-part timeline and congregational vote will guide the transition as it closes the Stanley era and opens the next chapter under Joel Thomas.
