Lead Pastor Transition

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 was 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 wanted to make sure everyone had an opportunity to honor and celebrate the Lehrs. Below are two specific ways.

September 13 Service
Scott preached his final sermon at Southbridge. You can watch it here. At the end of service we had a special sendoff moment. You can watch that moment here.

Love Offering
Thank you for showing your gratitude for the Lehr's by giving to the Love Offering. Your gifts will go directly to the Lehr family as God leads them to what's next.

Note Cards
Thank.you to everyone who showed their appreciation by filling out a note card for the Lehr family. We are packaging those notes for a special book we will deliver to the Lehrs once completed.

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. You can learn more about David here.

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.