Andy Stanley’s proposed North Point handoff would move Joel Thomas into two leadership roles on separate dates. The congregational vote closing October 30 concerns Thomas’s nomination as senior pastor of North Point Ministries, the organization-wide role. Results are scheduled for November 1.

The ministry published Stanley’s plan on October 18. Its elders unanimously nominated Thomas to become North Point Ministries senior pastor on January 1, 2027, if voters approve. North Point says about 50,000 eligible participants will have an opportunity to vote.

Two roles, two dates

Stanley also serves as lead pastor of North Point Community Church in Alpharetta. North Point’s FAQ says he plans to remain in that campus role through May 2027. It separately lists June 1, 2027, as the planned date for Thomas to take over as lead pastor of that church.

The positions have different scopes. North Point describes the ministry-wide senior pastor as the leader of its network and campuses. A lead pastor directs an individual campus. Thomas’s proposed move into the ministry-wide role would happen five months before the planned campus handoff.

What happens after the vote

The ballot asks voters whether to approve the elders’ recommendation of Thomas as senior pastor of North Point Ministries, effective January 1. North Point says eligible voters will be selected based on participation, such as small-group activity, volunteering, regular donations or checking a child into church programs. The organization says the result will be shared during services on November 1.

Stanley says he will continue preaching in the rotation and serve on the Board of Elders. North Point says he is leaving his employee roles, not retiring from ministry. The vote decides the NPM senior-pastor nomination; the June campus handoff is a separate planned date.

The North Point announcement includes the full transition timeline and explains how the two leadership positions differ.