After more than 35 years in ministry at Eastern Star Church, Pastor Johnson is certain God is calling him into a new phase of his life. He has initiated this process, and we are supportive of him and trusting God. Pastor Johnson has given so much to Eastern Star Church, our larger central Indiana community and even served nationally and globally. He is feeling ready to make a change. We are grateful and celebrating with Pastor Johnson, Lady Sharon Johnson and their family during this season.

After much prayer and discernment, Pastor Johnson decided that he was ready for this new season. In the spring of 2022, Pastor Johnson officially informed the Eastern Star Church Council and Executive Team that he wanted to begin a process to shift from the Senior Pastor position at Eastern Star Church and that we needed to start more planning. Numerous meetings, a leadership retreat, ongoing planning and work with external consultants followed..

As of February 2024, we have begun an intentional season of Celebration and Appreciation with Pastor Johnson and Lady Sharon Johnson. We are trusting the Lord for this Search Process and the future of Eastern Star Church.

Our leaders are thinking holistically to care for Pastor Johnson and Lady Sharon Johnson. We are also working together to further the ministry of Eastern Star Church.

Several teams are working to oversee various aspects of this season at Eastern Star Church. The Executive Team leads and oversees the entire process.

The Executive Team includes:

Senior Pastor Jeffrey A. Johnson, Sr.

Chief Administrative Officer Katherine Kuhn

Elder Lukau Matuka

Executive Pastor Anthony Murdock

Elder James S. Poore, II

Deacon Robert Wright

These teams include:

Administrative Team (Led by Katherine Kuhn, Chief Administrative Officer) - To oversee staff needs, finances, facilities, bylaws, etc.

Celebration Team (Lead TBD) - To plan our appreciation, recognition, ceremonies and events for Pastor Johnson, Lady Sharon Johnson and their family.

Communications Team (Led by ESC leaders with Leah Norton of Fishhook) - To ensure there is clear, intentional communication all throughout this process.

Community Team (Lead TBD) - To manage our external connections throughout this season.

Search Team (Led by Elder James S. Poore, II, with Matt Wright of Slingshot) - To prayerfully conduct a structured, effective search process for Eastern Star Church’s next Lead Pastor

Theological Team (Led by LaJuan Epperson, Chief Ministry Officer) - To ensure our church as a whole has a consistent focus on spiritual disciplines and spiritual growth

More about the Search Team

A Search Team to guide the search for our next Lead Pastor has been formed. According to our church bylaws, the Church Council will oversee a Search Team and will have input from our current Senior Pastor.

This Search Team includes:

Church Council Appointees

Search Team Chairperson: Elder James Poore, Church Council Vice Moderator

Deacon Raymond Turner

Deacon Robert Marshall

Elder Brenda Harrington

Elder Kristin Mays Corbitt

Congregation Appointees

Mr. Timothy Coleman

Mr. Eric Dozier

Ms. Sandra Bryant Willis

Slingshot Group - a Retained Executive Search Firm we have contracted with to help us with our search - will facilitate the process with the Eastern Star Church Search Team to promote this open position, gather applications and review resumes. Slingshot Group and the Search Team will carefully conduct a thorough interview process, have in-person visits, check references, etc.

The Search Team will present one candidate at a time to the Church Council and Senior Pastor. Then, this candidate could be presented before our church to consider for our next Lead Pastor. This person will preach to our congregation and connect with our Church Council, staff, and others at each of our church campuses. A congregational vote will be taken to affirm our next Lead Pastor.

Then, a new Lead Pastor and Pastor Johnson will have an Overlap Period and work together to help in this transition and with the onboarding of our new Lead Pastor.

Pastor Jeffrey Johnson will continue preaching and sharing with us. In addition, Pastor Daniel Johnson, our Associate Pastor of Preaching and Teaching at Eastern Star Church, will continue to preach and occasionally other guest preachers will share with our congregation as well.

All interested and qualified Lead Pastor candidates will be considered. Please apply here.

A Search Team for our next Lead Pastor has been formed. According to our church bylaws, the Church Council will oversee a Search Team and will have input from our current Senior Pastor.

This Search Team includes:

Church Council Appointees

Search Team Chairperson: Elder James S. Poore, II, Church Council Vice Moderator

Deacon Raymond Turner

Deacon Robert Marshall

Elder Brenda Harrington

Elder Kristin Mays Corbitt

Congregation Appointees

Mr. Timothy Coleman

Mr. Eric Dozier

Ms. Sandra Bryant Willis

Slingshot Group - a Retained Executive Search Firm we have contracted with - will facilitate the process with the Search Team to promote this open position, gather applications and review resumes. Slingshot Group and the Search Team will carefully conduct a thorough interview process, have in-person visits, check references, etc.

The Search Team will present one candidate at a time to the Church Council and Senior Pastor. Then, this candidate could be presented before our church to consider for our next Lead Pastor. This person will preach to our congregation and connect with our Church Council, staff, and others at each of our church campuses. A congregational vote will be taken to affirm our next Lead Pastor.

Then, a new Lead Pastor and Pastor Johnson will have an Overlap Period and work together to help in this transition and with the onboarding of our new Lead Pastor.

These titles are very similar. They both indicate that the person with this title is the primary spiritual leader, visionary and preacher at Eastern Star Church. Lead Pastor is being used moving ahead to denote this new season in the life of our church.

Yes, Pastor Johnson will be a significant support and resource to the church’s next Lead Pastor. We are planning that the new Lead Pastor and Pastor Johnson will have an Overlap Period and work together to help in this transition and with the onboarding of our new Lead Pastor.

Our church will continue to live out our mission. We are a church family where Jesus is Exalted and The Word is Explained. We are focused on Evangelism and Discipleship to reach more people for Christ and to grow deeper in our walk with Him. And we will continue to serve and love others generously throughout our local community, nation and world.

Yes, all of our campuses will continue to be active and led by our Campus Pastors and Leaders. We will continue to stream our services online as well.

This is a significant change for everyone involved. We love and appreciate Pastor Johnson so much. The Church Council trusts that Pastor Johnson is feeling called by God to this change at this time. And we know that God is at work. We are eager for how God is leading us, and we trust he will bring us a wonderful Lead Pastor for the next season at Eastern Star.

As with the Church Council and full congregation, this is a significant change for everyone involved. After many years of working with Pastor Johnson, there are many emotions from gratitude to sadness to even some grief. There are also some questions and anticipation about what is ahead. The Executive Team at Eastern Star Church is working with all directors and managers to care for our full staff throughout this season.

Yes, this is key to our mission and who we are at Eastern Star Church. We will continue to be full of generosity and support for others in need locally, throughout our state, nation and world.

Please email Godsgotnext@easternstarchurch.org to submit a question or offer your thoughts about this season at Eastern Star Church. You can watch for more updates and information to be shared here on this God’s Got Next webpage.

Several teams are being set up at Eastern Star Church to ensure we are well-organized throughout this season. One of the teams being formed is a Celebration Team. This group will lead us well to express much gratitude and appreciation to Pastor Johnson and Lady Sharon.

Once a new Lead Pastor starts at Eastern Star Church, Pastor Johnson will have a new title - Legacy Pastor - with Eastern Star Church for the rest of his life. This title recognizes the huge impact, wisdom and faithfulness he has given to the ministry of our church and community.