Leadership
Succession Process
2025

Message from Luke & Hilary | July 2025

Update | June 23, 2025

Dear Westgate Church Family,

We are filled with gratitude and joy as we share the results of the recent congregational votes. Your faithful participation and prayerful discernment reflect the unity and strength of our church body. Here was the outcomes - Luke Brodeur as Lead Pastor (effective January 1, 2026) was approved with 95% in favor.

We are deeply thankful for the ways each of you continues to invest in the life and mission of Westgate. Special thanks go to our Finance Commission, Church Staff, our entire Search Team and Chair, Steve Dick, and the Leadership Board, for their steady and faithful leadership throughout this process.

As we look ahead, we do so with expectancy—trusting that God will continue to pour out His blessings on our church. We remain committed to walking in step with the Holy Spirit, listening for His voice, and faithfully following His lead.

With gratitude and hope,
Garfield A. Bowen, Leadership Board Chair 

Update | June 1, 2025

In accordance with our church bylaws, a Search Team of nine members was formed this Spring, led by Leadership Board Vice Chair Steve Dick. This team has approached their responsibility with humility, diligence, and a deep dependence on God. For the past eight weeks, they have bathed the process in prayer, seeking God’s wisdom at every turn as they considered the future leadership of our church.

The Search Committee’s first task was to consider our Executive Pastor, Luke Broder, as a potential internal candidate for the role of Lead Pastor. Through several meetings, in-depth interviews, and much prayer, the committee discerned God’s leading. They have now formally recommended to the Leadership Board that Pastor Luke be presented to the congregation as our candidate for Lead Pastor.

On May 27, the Leadership Board met to review, discuss, and pray over this recommendation. We are pleased to share that the Board voted unanimously to bring Pastor Luke forward as our recommended candidate to serve as Lead Pastor, beginning in January 2026. We believe this is God’s direction for Westgate Church, and now, in accordance with our bylaws, we entrust the final decision to the voting members of our congregation at our Annual Meeting on June 22, 2025.

We praise God for the transformative work He continues to do in and through Westgate Church. Just as the Lord has faithfully led us throughout our history, we are confident He will continue to guide us into a bright and exciting future.

Thank you for your prayers, your faith, and your partnership in this journey.

In March of 2025, Pastor Kevin announced to the congregation that he will be stepping back from his role as Lead Pastor at the end of 2025. After 16 years of leading our church, Kevin is looking forward to spending more time with family and engaging in other areas of ministry. Fortunately for us, Kevin plans to stay on our staff part-time to continue serving on the Teaching Team, supporting outreach efforts, and being a resource to the next Lead Pastor.

View the announcement from Pastor Kevin and our Leadership Board executive team here:

Search Team

In preparation for this transition, Pastor Kevin graciously notified the Leadership Board several years in advance so that they could begin praying and discerning next steps together. Over the last several years, the Leadership Board has been working on these plans in consultation with our church consultant, Nancy Moore. They have developed a timeline that will allow the congregation to vote on our next Lead Pastor as early as June of this year.

In accordance with our church’s governing documents, a Search Team has been formed and will begin meeting in April 2025. Their first task will be to evaluate, pray, and discern about the possibility of Luke Brodeur, our Executive Pastor, to take on the role of Lead Pastor starting in 2026. You can view the details of the process in the timeline below.

  • March 2025 | Pastor Kevin announcement to the congregation

  • April 2025 | Pastoral Search Team was selected by the Leadership Board and began meeting

  • May 2025 | Search Team interviews and evaluates Luke Brodeur and makes a recommendation to the Leadership Board

  • May 27, 2025 | Leadership Board voted to recommend Luke Brodeur for a congregational vote

  • June 22, 2025 | Annual Business Meeting | Congregation affirms Luke Brodeur as the next Lead Pastor with 95% positive vote

  • December 31 | Pastor Kevin repositioning from current role

  • January 1 | Pastor Luke assumes role of Lead Pastor

Questions regarding the Pastoral Search Team or succession process? Let us know!