Adam Hamilton to Remain Senior Pastor after Historic Kansas Senate Victory
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Kansas megachurch Pastor Adam Hamilton says he will continue serving as lead pastor of his church despite being elected as the first elected to the U.S. Senate to represent Kansas in nearly a century.
A representative of Church of the Resurrection of Leawood, Kansas, which is one of the largest congregations in the United Methodist Church, issued a statement to The Christian Post that Hamilton will continue to serve as senior pastor following his defeat of Republican incumbent Sen. Roger Marshall on Tuesday’s midterm election.
Hamilton “will continue serving as our Senior Pastor, though his status will shift from full-time to quarter-time,” the spokesperson said.
“Adam will continue to be the church’s foremost leader, and he will continue to cast vision and set overall direction. He will preach an estimated 12-18 weekends per year, including Christmas and Easter.”
“He will also set vision for the executive team, weigh in on important matters, and mentor our pastors and leaders. The church will continue to demonstrate its ability to operate under the day-to-day leadership of our executive staff, with oversight from our governing bodies.”
Resurrection also informed its congregation that Hamiltion, 62, will transition to a pastor emeritus role following his previously scheduled resignation as senior pastor in 2030.
As a senator-elect, the church stated Hamiltoin will have increased security but that “Adam’s roles as pastor and senator will be distinct.”
“The church will not be responsible for his Senate votes or positions; political questions and opinions must be directed to his Senate office,” Resurrection told the congregations.
During his victory speech Tuesday night, Hamilton, a theological progressive, stressed the importance of unity in action regardless of political party.
"We are better together than we are divided," Hamilton told his supporters, saying that as many as 40 percent of his rally attendees were Republican. “Kansans want Republicans and Democrats to work together to actually solve problems, to meet in the middle."
The pastor also referenced several scriptures in his speech, including Matthew 7:12, Micah 6:8, and also spoke about the Good Samaritan found in Luke 10:25–37.
“Let's love our neighbors as ourselves" and encouraged his supporters to "love boldly, serve joyfully and lead courageously."
Hamilton, who has authored 30 books, will be sworn in as senator on Jan.3, 2027.
Photo credit: ©GettyImages/AUSTIN JOHNSON / Contributor
Originally published November 05, 2026.
