Pastor Scott Steps Down as Lead Pastor

Published August 23, 2026
A Letter from the Elders


Southbridge family,

On Sunday, August 23, 2026 during both morning services, Pastor Scott shared news with our church that we want every member of our family to hear clearly and personally: after twenty years as our founding and lead pastor, Scott has concluded that his assignment at Southbridge is complete. At the end of August, he will step down as Lead Pastor. We are thankful for the faithful way Scott has served Southbridge over these twenty years, and we trust the Lord as He leads him, his wife Shanna, and their family into what comes next.

We celebrate that Scott has served with integrity, and we are grateful that this transition is not the result of a scandal or hidden crisis, but of the Lord leading him into a new season.

After his 2021 sabbatical, Scott told church leadership he was highly certain he would still be Southbridge’s lead pastor in one year—but less certain he would be in that role five years later. His honesty opened a years-long conversation with church leadership about his long-term calling, succession, and Southbridge’s future—a conversation that became increasingly intentional over the last two years.

By the end of May 2026, Scott had reached full clarity that his assignment as Lead Pastor was complete, and on July 20, Scott shared that decision with the full Elder Board. We asked hard questions. We listened. We talked together as brothers. And before that evening ended, we gathered around Scott, laid hands on him, and prayed over him, his family, and Southbridge. Since that night, your elders have met weekly, working with outside counsel and advisors and preparing carefully for this transition. Since that night, your elders have met multiple times each week, working with outside counsel and advisors and preparing carefully for this transition.

We are committed, together, to finishing this chapter well.

Twenty years ago, Scott and Shanna moved to Raleigh with everything they owned in a U-Haul and a conviction that God wanted a church in the Triangle that would exalt Jesus above everything and connect people to Jesus for life change. Forty people in a country club became hundreds in a movie theater, then a middle school, then a permanent home. There have been baptisms, weddings, funerals, mission trips, and countless lives changed by Jesus. We are profoundly grateful.

Scott shares these words with all of us:

“Somewhere along the way, Southbridge stopped being the dream Shanna and I carried into Raleigh, and it became your church. That’s what was supposed to happen. When I reached full clarity that this assignment was complete, I had nothing waiting for me; the decision came first, with empty hands.

Since then, God has opened a door to serve parents and families outside the local church, and I’ll share more in the weeks ahead. But Southbridge was never supposed to be Scott Lehr’s church. It belongs to Jesus. Keep exalting Him. Keep connecting people to Him for life change. Keep loving this city. It has been one of the greatest privileges of my life to be your pastor.”

Church family, pastors change and seasons change, but Jesus doesn’t. The mission Scott preached for twenty years is the same mission we carry into next Sunday. Pray for Scott, Shanna, Ella, Ava, Janie, and Gracie in this season. Pray for your elders. And keep being the city on a hill this church was planted to be.

If you have questions or thoughts, we invite you to speak with any elder on Sundays following both services on the Patio or write to us at elders@sfchurch.com. We would rather answer the same question a hundred times than have one member carry it alone.

With gratitude and confidence in Christ,

The Elder Board of Southbridge Fellowship
Todd Baughman, Elder Chair
Jon Cullen, Elder
David Ennis, Elder
Adam Gilbert, Elder
Scott Kinas, Elder
Keith Williamson, Elder

FAQs

Pastor Scott’s decision came after years of prayer, honest reflection, and discernment, including questions he has been considering since his 2021 sabbatical. In May 2026, he reached full clarity that his assignment at Southbridge was complete. We celebrate that Scott has served Southbridge with integrity since the church began nearly 20 years ago.

Pastor Scott’s last official day on staff will be Sunday, August 30, 2026. He is scheduled to return on Sunday, September 13, 2026, to preach his final sermon at Southbridge, giving us an opportunity to hear from him one more time and mark the close of this season together. We hope everyone who calls Southbridge home will be there.

Yes! We want to make sure everyone has an opportunity to honor and celebrate the Lehrs over the next several weeks. Below are two specific ways. We’ll share more opportunities soon.

September 13 Service
Mark your calendars for Sunday, September 13, 2026, when Pastor Scott will preach his final sermon at Southbridge. It will be an opportunity to hear from him one more time, celebrate the Lehrs, and mark the close of this season together.

Love Offering
We are receiving a Love Offering for the Lehr family from now through September 13. We invite you to participate as a tangible expression of appreciation for the many ways they have loved, served, and invested in our church family over the past two decades.

You can make a tax-deductibe contribution online at here or by using one of the offering envelopes available in the lobby. If giving by envelope, please clearly designate your gift for the Love Offering.

During this season, Jon Cullen will continue leading the staff and day-to-day operations. David Horner will serve as Interim Pastor and our primary preaching voice, alongside a rotation of our own pastors. We are grateful for the strong leaders in place and confident in the leadership they will provide throughout this transition. We'll share more about David soon.

The Elder Board will lead a deliberate and unhurried search for the next Lead Pastor. The search will be separate from the timing of Scott’s departure so that the church is not rushed into such an important decision. We want to make sure we set aside adequate time to prayerfully discern the right person to lead Southbridge into its next season.

No. Following his transition, Scott does not plan to continue attending or serving at Southbridge. For the health of the church and its next season of leadership, it is generally best for a founding pastor to step away and create space for new leadership to lead fully.

We want to provide as much clarity as we can. If you have specific questions or concerns, we encourage you to speak with one of the elders in person or email elders@sfchurch.com. Elders will also be available after both services each Sunday for the next several weeks and through most of September. We want to make sure you have opportunities to ask questions, receive clarity, and stay connected throughout the transition.