Longtime megachurch pastor Dr. Joel Hunter to step down from role at Longwood's Northland Church

LONGWOOD, Fla. — Northland Church senior pastor Dr. Joel Hunter announced Wednesday that he intends to step down from the post he has held at the church since 1985.

The announcement was shared in a letter from lead pastor Vernon Rainwater.

Hunter also posted a letter on the church's website Wednesday; read the letter here.

When Hunter started as pastor of Northland Church in Longwood in 1985, the congregation numbered about 200.

Since then, he has seen the congregation increase a hundredfold to about 20,000 today.

"On behalf of Northland's leadership, I want to let you know that Pastor Joel has expressed his intention to transition from his role as senior pastor of Northland Church," Rainwater said in the letter. " Our governing elders received this information today after he returned from his annual sabbatical."

Rainwater said he has served with Hunter for 32 years, and assured the congregation of Northland that the senior pastor would remain active in the community after he leaves his position.

"Pastor Joel made it clear to us that he is not finished serving God and this community," Rainwater wrote. "However, he has completed his pastoral call."

Rainwater did not say when Hunter would leave his position as senior pastor.

"On behalf of Northland's leadership, I want to let you know that Pastor Joel has expressed his intention to transition from his role as senior pastor of Northland Church. Our governing elders received this information today after he returned from his annual sabbatical. They have asked me to communicate this to you, the congregation.

It's been my great pleasure to serve alongside Pastor Joel and Becky for 32 years, 27 of those years as a pastor. Having worked closely with him, I know him to be a man of integrity, full of compassion for others, and infectious love for Jesus Christ. No doubt you join me in gratitude for all that he has taught us about who God is and what He has done. His life and ministry have been a catalyst for worship and service throughout this city and around the world. 

Pastor Joel made it clear to us that he is not finished serving God and this community, however, he has completed his pastoral call. Our elder board affirms him in this, and we look forward to hearing more from him in the coming weeks.

So what's next for Northland? Our governing elders are praying and seeking God for direction. What we do know is we will continue to be a community that includes the unincluded, the marginalized and gathers to worship God for who He is and what He has done. From its inception in 1972, Northland has been unwavering in its purpose: To bring people to maturity in Christ."

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Here are some questions you may have:

Our board of elders is working with Pastor Joel to identify the best timing for him and the congregation.

This morning, Pastor Joel told the board of elders and executive staff that "my call to the pastoral role in the church is fulfilled." We look forward to hearing from him over the next several weeks.

Clearly, there is no one like Pastor Joel. The governing elders are working through this process now and expect it to take some time. Pastor Vernon will continue to serve as our lead pastor and we are blessed with a number of excellent preachers and leaders who will serve our congregation.

We are working on a plan to honor Pastor Joel & Becky and their faithful ministry at Northland - you will have the opportunity to participate in that.

Cox Media Group