Bill Hybels’ Successor - Both of them

Willow Creek Community Church Names Bill Hybels’ Successor—Both of Them

Willow Creek Community Church has recently been involved with Pastor Bill Hybels in developing a multi-year succession plan. The entire process has been immersed in prayer and we believe Spirit-led. This weekend, October 14-15, an announcement was shared regarding who the elders of the church have chosen to lead Willow Creek Community Church into its fantastic future. We are excited about Bill’s future role with The Global Leadership Summit and he is grateful for your engagement and support!

• The Elders of Willow Creek Community Church Announce Two New Senior Leadership Positions
• Heather Larson, 42, Will Serve as Lead Pastor of Willow Creek Community Church, Including Its Eight, Chicago-Area Locations
• Steve Carter, 38, Will Serve as Lead Teaching Pastor
• Current Senior Pastor Bill Hybels Will Continue on Church Staff Until October 2018, When He Will Turn His Attention to Further Development of the Global Leadership Summit

CHICAGO, Oct. 14, 2017—This weekend the elders of Willow Creek Community Church (WCCC) announced the successful completion of a multiyear succession plan by naming Heather Larson as lead pastor and Steve Carter as lead teaching pastor. Senior pastor Bill Hybels, who founded the church in 1975, will continue coaching and developing these leaders until he transitions off the church staff in October 2018. This will be a new leadership structure for WCCC that replaces the role of senior pastor with two new roles, one focused on leadership and the other on teaching. Stepping into the role of lead pastor is Heather Larson, 42, formerly the executive pastor of the church and its eight Chicago-area locations. Assuming the title of lead teaching pastor will be Steve Carter, 38, who has been Hybels’ teaching associate for the last five years.

The succession planning process has been led for the past several years by Willow Creek’s elders—including Hybels, who will turn 66 in December. “Questions about succession are among the top three questions I’m asked when I meet with leaders,” he told the Global Leadership Summit audience in August. “We began our planning process well in advance of my transition, because I wanted Willow Creek to be an even stronger church in the future.”

Through the succession planning process, Hybels and the elders came to see the advantages of a new model for Willow Creek, which allows one person to focus on leadership and another person to focus on teaching. This will set up the church to thrive with two leaders functioning in their areas of giftedness.

Pam Orr, chair of the elder board, said on the elders’ behalf, “I am deeply grateful to Bill, the staff and the entire congregation at Willow for the ways they have navigated this succession process. Six years ago we asked God to provide us with new leaders for the future of our church, and He did.”

Heather Larson has been on staff at Willow Creek for 19 years. She has served as executive pastor for five years, effectively overseeing the church with 350 employees and annual revenue of $77 million. “Heather has flourished in every leadership role I’ve given her,” Hybels said. “Her impeccable character and significant leadership abilities make her one of the best church leaders I’ve ever known.” Larson recently told a Willow Creek audience, “There’s no other organization on earth I would rather be part of than the local church. This is my home church, and I want to give my best to see Willow thriving in all areas, extending love to our community and our world.”

Steve Carter has been mentored by Hybels for 15 years and has been a teaching pastor at Willow Creek for the past five. Carter’s primary focus has been teaching at weekend and midweek services. Hybels called Carter, “One of the most gifted communicators I’ve ever worked with.” Hybels also said, “Steve doesn’t just love to teach—he has a passion for the Bible and he has a heart for reaching people far from God. That’s ultimately the mission of Willow Creek.” Carter has been carrying a significant part of the teaching responsibilities this year, and said, “I love our church! I’m honored to serve alongside Heather and focus on preaching the Bible to our church family and raising up other gifted communicators all across Willow.”

Hybels will continue to work closely with Larson and Carter before they fully assume their new roles. Hybels will remain on the church staff until October 2018, at which point he will devote more attention to the Willow Creek Association and the annual Global Leadership Summit, a movement of 400,000 leaders in 130 countries that Hybels launched in 1995.

Willow Creek Community Church: Willow Creek is one of the 10 largest churches in America, averaging 25,000 attendees each week at its eight locations in the Chicago area. Bill Hybels is the founding and senior pastor, and serves as chair of the board for the Willow Creek Association, which was created in 1992 to serve pastors and leaders through world-class leadership experiences and resources. Willow Creek Association hosts its annual Global Leadership Summit, a two-day, premier leadership event attended by more than 400,000 leaders around the world. Willow Creek Community Church’s mission, since 1975, has been to reach people far from God and help them become fully devoted followers of Christ. For more information on Willow Creek, please visit willowcreek.org.