Andy Stanley to Step Down as North Point Senior Pastor, Says He Wants More Time with Grandchildren
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Andy Stanley, pastor of a megachurch in Georgia, announced on Sunday, Oct. 18, his intention to step down as the church's senior pastor, making way for younger leadership.
Stanley, who founded North Point Community Church in 1995, told his congregation his decision was his choice, with one major reason being able “to say ‘yes’ to my grandchildren without having to check my schedule.”
“So, it’s both a professional thing, an organizational thing, and, obviously, these decisions are personal,” Stanley said.
Stanley, 68, says he will step down as senior pastor of North Point Ministries in January 2027 and also from his role as lead pastor of North Point Community Church in June, around his 69th birthday.
In his opening remarks, Stanley mentioned that he believed "it's the right decision; it's the right time; and that we're moving in an amazing, amazing direction."
Also, in a humorous moment during his announcement, he shared that he essentially has three options when it comes to leaving his position: death, being asked to leave or choosing to leave.
"So, I feel like, you may disagree, I feel like, I feel like I'm choosing the best of the three options," he said.
Nevertheless, Stanley said he will remain a church elder and plans to preach periodically, The Christian Post reported.
"The best thing for this next iteration of what we are going to do together requires a younger leader who can project a vision further out than I could because of my age and season of life," Stanley said. "I am not trying to be the hero. I am not trying to be a martyr. I just believe in what we do, and this is one of the reasons I am confident this is the right time."
Joel Thomas, executive director of North Point Ministries, has been nominated by the board of elders to succeed Stanley. However, before Thomas assumes his new role, he has to be approved by a vote from the congregation. That vote is currently open and will be through Friday, Oct. 30.
Should the congregation approve, Thomas will be installed as senior pastor, effective Jan. 1, 2027.
“Joel is absolutely the right person," Stanley affirmed.
Thomas previously served as lead pastor of North Point Community Church from 2011 to 2015 before he took on the role of senior pastor at Mission Community Church in Arizona, where he remained until 2021.
Over the years, during his time as a minister, Stanley has found himself at the center of controversy on several occasions.
Stanley, son of late Baptist pastor Charles Stanley, has previously received criticism for hosting the two-day Unconditional Conference, which catered to parents of LGBT children. At the time, Stanley defended the conference by stressing that it would be helpful to LGBT children who are struggling with an “immutable” characteristic while also maintaining that his church affirmed the biblical definition of marriage between one man and one woman.
Stanley also faced backlash over remarks he made in a sermon in April 2018, when he told Christians to “unhitch” their faith from the Old Testament.
Preaching from Acts 15, Stanley spoke about how the Gentile Christians were not required to follow Jewish law to convert to Christianity.
"[First century] Church leaders unhitched the Church from the worldview, value system, and regulations of the Jewish scriptures," said Stanley. "Peter, James, Paul elected to unhitch the Christian faith from their Jewish scriptures, and my friends, we must as well."
Photo Credit: YouTube/North Point Community Church
Originally published October 20, 2026.
