Succession 2027

Praying for our next Lead Pastors

Praying for Our Next Lead Pastors

After 24 years of faithful leadership, our founding pastors, Jim Johnson and Paul Basden, are prayerfully preparing to step into the next chapter of their lives—creating an important moment of transition and hope in the life of our church. As we look to the future, we remain committed to the dual-leadership model that has shaped Preston Trail for more than two decades. With this in mind, we have already identified Alison Leamon as one of our future lead pastors and are now seeking the right man to serve alongside her in shared leadership.

This search is intentional and prayerful. Through a guided process led by our elders and leadership team, we are trusting God to bring the right leader—a man who will help shape our long-term direction, strengthen our mission, and steward the health of our church as we step into the next chapter.

Succession Timeline

As we prayerfully discern God’s timing and direction throughout the search process, we anticipate four key phases in this season: 
Phase I
Prayer & Preparation
Summer 2025 - Spring 2026
Our Elder team has been prayerfully seeking God's direction and preparing for a healthy transition - and God has already been at work, directing us to one of our future lead pastors from within our own teaching team: Alison Leamon.
Phase II
Search & Selection
Summer 2026 - Early Spring 2027
A period of prayerful searching, engaging potential leaders, and trusting God to bring the right man into focus for the open lead pastor role.
Expected to last six to nine months
Phase III
Welcome & Assimilation
Spring - Fall 2027
During this leadership overlap, our founding senior pastors will build deeper relationships with our incoming lead pastors while thoughtfully and prayerfully preparing for the transition ahead.
Phase IV
Leadership Transition
Late 2027
We will honor Jim's and Paul's faithful leadership and look ahead with hope. They will formally pass the baton to our two new lead pastors, marking the official handoff as they step into retirement.
Key Dates:
June 28 - Churchwide Succession Update Announcement
July 8 - Real Time Conversation: Succession (Register here)
August 31 - Applications Close

How to Pray

We invite you to join our elders and staff in prayer in the months to come. As this process unfolds, we’ll continue to share specific ways you can pray.

Five prayer focus areas for church transition

Church unity & health

That we will remain united in purpose, sharing one mind in our mission and reflecting the humility and attitude of Christ. Pray for both healthy grieving and hopeful anticipation as we say goodbye to Jim's and Paul's pastoral leadership and embrace the next chapter.

Elder search team

That they will have wisdom, discernment, and clarity in the candidate selection process.

Future lead pastors

For Alison, that she would have deep peace, confidence, and assurance in her calling.

For our future second lead pastor, that God would guide the search and open the right doors at the right time.

Current senior pastors

For shalom for Jim and Paul - along with their families - as they prepare for this season of transition.

Staff

For our staff to remain united in purpose and filled with joy as they faithfully serve the church and our community.

Who We Are Praying For

As we search for our additional lead pastor, we are praying for a leader uniquely called to shared leadership, and the humility that requires. We are seeking someone who brings strategic vision, a future focus, a pastor’s heart, and strong teaching and communication gifts, who will help guide our church into its next chapter of mission and impact alongside Alison Leamon. 
Open Position

Lead Pastor,
Organizational Strategy

Job Profile View Candidate Page
Alison

Lead Pastor,
Spiritual Formation

Job Profile Alison's Bio
Lanes of Responsibility

Frequently Asked Questions

Why succession and why now?
After 24 years of faithful leadership, Jim & Paul are sensing that this is the time to complete their season as our senior pastors, stepping away from their staff role and into the next chapter of their lives. At the same time, this is a healthy and hopeful moment in the life of our church. Launching the public phase of the succession process now allows for a gradual transition over the next 18 months–while Paul and Jim are still with us. During this time of leadership overlap, Jim and Paul will begin building deeper relationships with our incoming lead pastors, while thoughtfully and prayerfully preparing our church for the transition ahead.
Why continue a dual leadership model consisting of two lead pastors?
From the very beginning, Jim’s and Paul’s shared leadership model has meaningfully shaped the identity of Preston Trail. We believe this model strengthens the church in three key ways:
  • Sustainability – Leaders share the joy and weight of ministry, supporting one another along the way, avoiding high stress that leads to burnout.  
  • Humility & Accountability – Decisions are shaped through a trusted partnership in which leaders can challenge, refine, and discern God’s will together with wisdom and care.  
  • Productivity – Dual leadership extends the reach of our leaders, allowing them to serve more people in more places.  

Has God provided someone on our current staff to fill one of these roles?
We believe God has clearly been at work in the background, guiding us now to raise up Alison Leamon from within our own teaching team to be one of our two future lead pastors. Her impassioned teaching and leadership reflect not only Preston Trail’s values, but the heart of leadership we see defined in Scripture. 
How will their distinct roles guide the church?
Together, the two lead pastors will guide Preston Trail’s vision, teaching, culture, and overall health. They’ll work side by side to shape the church’s direction, develop leaders, and help ensure we follow through on our shared mission of helping people find and follow Jesus.

Our future lead pastor will provide leadership for Preston Trail’s organizational strategy, health, and expansion so we can reach more people with the good news of the Gospel.
 
As lead pastor, Alison will provide leadership for Preston Trail’s spiritual formation, equipping, and shepherding so our people are growing to know, love, and follow Jesus more deeply.  
 
Find our job profiles here.
How will accountability and healthy leadership dynamics be maintained within a male/female co-leadership model?
Preston Trail has always valued shared leadership, accountability, and healthy team dynamics. As we move into this next season, our elders remain committed to ensuring both lead pastors are supported, protected, and empowered within healthy leadership structures.

Because of the size and complexity of our church, leadership naturally and primarily happens within team environments alongside our Executive team and elders—not in isolation. That means the male and female lead pastors will be accountable to other team leaders as they meet and make decisions.
What resources can help me learn more about Preston Trail’s position on women in pastoral leadership?
We’re glad you asked! Here are some helpful links:  
As we search for our additional lead pastor, who will be involved in the decision-making process?
This process will be guided by a search team made up of our Elder team, current Senior Pastors Jim Johnson and Paul Basden, our Executive Pastors Sarah Davidson and Kendra Trautman, and Alison Leamon in her role as future lead pastor.  
The search team will then bring candidates to the entire Elder team, which will prayerfully discern and make the final hiring decision.
What role can I play?
In our fervent desire to be a praying church, our first role is to seek God together, aligning our hearts with his will through prayer. We invite you to pray with us in these specific ways. We will continue to share more opportunities to join in as the process unfolds.
 
We also ask that you help spread the word. As the Holy Spirit brings people to mind, consider referring them to our candidate website, where they can learn more and possibly apply for this role. You are trusted voices in sharing what God is doing at Preston Trail.
 
Refer a candidate to our page
What will Jim & Paul’s roles be post-transition?
Jim and Paul will step into whatever ministry roles God may have for them, fully entrusting the leadership of our church to the new lead pastors. Although they will step off the Elder team, they and their families will remain part of the Preston Trail community.
When will Alison step into her new role as one of our future lead pastors?
Alison will remain in her role as Teaching pastor until the other lead pastor is announced. Together, the incoming lead pastors will enter Phase III of the succession timeline - operating under an intentional leadership overlap with Jim and Paul.

In the immediate future, Alison will remain an influential part of our Young Adults ministry.
Will succession impact our All In initiative?
No. From its inception, our All In initiative has been thoughtfully aligned with this season of transition. The campus enhancement projects and financial commitments were planned with succession in mind, ensuring continuity and stability for our church.

This three-year generosity initiative, which began in November 2024, will conclude at the end of 2027—aligning with the anticipated transition to our new lead pastors. This intentional timing allows us to move forward with unity, honoring the commitments we’ve made, while preparing for the next chapter of leadership at Preston Trail. 
I have questions, where can I ask them?
We'll be hosting Real Time Conversation: Succession on Wednesday, July 8. This will be an opportunity for Jim, Paul, Alison, and our other elders to respond to pre-submitted questions from our church family. Limited KidCare will be available. Register and submit your questions here.

If you have questions and would like to speak with our staff team, please email pastorsearch@prestontrail.org