Chris Hodges Announces Leadership Transition Of America’s Second Largest Megachurch

Church of the Highlands is currently the second largest megachurch in the United States. Chris Hodges has been its longtime pastor for over two decades. The Alabama church is a Prosperity Gospel church, as shown in its faith statement. Chris Hodges has built an interdenominational organization, ARC, which stands for Association of Related Churches, which has a lot of tentacles in Evangelicalism operating as a quasi-denomination without any theological distinctive or an investment firm in church plants.

This past Sunday, Chris Hodges led off with a major announcement about the future of his church.

Oh, it’s so good to see everybody here today. Before I bring the word of God to you, I have some very exciting news to share with you about the future of our church. Before I share it, I want to be really clear that I’m not going anywhere. I’m going to live here the rest of my life. Is that okay with everybody? Thank you, that makes me feel so much better. My home is here, my heart is here, my presence is going to be here, and my tithe is here. I’m going nowhere.

Today, I am just delighted to announce a transition of roles that is going to take place here in our church. Just over two years ago, Pastor Mark Pettis came into my office and said something very interesting that kind of started something that was already happening in me for a number of years. He said he really loved Highland’s college, but every day he woke up with vision for the church. I told him that was interesting because I deeply love this church, but every day I wake up with vision for the school. I suggested we go through a process of exchanging some roles here in the church.

For the past two years, Pastor Mark and I have talked with each other probably every week, and we pray together. We’ve received counsel from our elders and people who’ve already been through the transition process. Over the past three or four months, I’ve been meeting with our elders, and they were unanimous in not only the who but the when. I even met with my own personal family, who have taken this journey with me for 24 years. They also feel good about this.

I’m delighted to let you guys know that Pastor Mark Pettis will become lead pastor, and I’m going to take on a new role in our church as founding Pastor. I’m still going to be speaking here, and I’m beginning a brand new series next Sunday. This new role as founding Pastor is actually going to allow me to increase my efforts over at Highland’s College as Chancellor. I’m not retiring, and I’m not tired. In fact, I have more energy and passion than I’ve had in a long time. This transition of roles is going to let me live out my ultimate calling, which is to empower other leaders.

Chris Hodges is promoting himself rather than stepping down. As the Founding Pastor of Church of the Highlands, Hodges will become a pastor of pastors within his vast network