A Leadership Transition

Announcement

A few years ago, Pastor Jim Preisig shared with our church that retirement was on his mind. Since then, there have been discussions, planning, and prayer about who would succeed Jim as the next pastor of The Summit Church. The Pastor Parish Relations Committee has been in conversation to discuss the future and next season of leadership at The Summit.

As a result of those conversations, upon Pastor Jim Preisig’s retirement on June 18, 2023, Pastor Ryan Schreckenghaust will step into the role of Lead Pastor of The Summit Church.

Meet Pastor Ryan

Ryan is no stranger to Lee’s Summit and The Summit Church. He has spent the majority of his life residing in and serving the Lee’s Summit community.

Ryan, and his wife Rebekah and their boys, began attending The Summit in 2014. Later that year, Ryan joined our staff and has been serving as a Pastor with various areas of responsibility since that time. Currently Ryan serves as the Executive Pastor, providing leadership to the ministries of the church, and empowering the staff to fulfill the vision. Ryan and Rebekah will celebrate 20 years of marriage this summer! You can keep up with Ryan by following him on Facebook.

Frequently Asked Questions


Q: Why is Pastor Jim retiring?

Pastor Jim has lovingly served the Church for 35 years, spending the last 21 years at The Summit. Pastor Jim has a desire to finish his ministry well and run across the finish line to pass the baton to the next generation. Pastor Jim is retiring while his health is good, his energy is high, and his love for the church is continuing to grow. 

Q: Is Pastor Ryan qualified to be our next Lead Pastor?

Ryan has been a great asset to the church since his hiring in 2014. Ryan completed a Master’s Degree in Ministry Leadership, is a Local Licensed Pastor, and has been a full-time pastor for almost 20 years. He has been given increasing responsibility during his tenure here and now serves as Executive Pastor at The Summit. His knowledge, talents and wisdom have helped Pastor Jim move the church forward and his strong faith and outstanding leadership have inspired the staff and congregation to continue following Jesus. 

Q: What will change?

Pastor Jim and Pastor Ryan have been working side-by-side for almost 8 years. While Jim has carried the mantle of leadership in the church, Ryan’s influence in the church has grown over the years. Pastor Ryan has been leading our staff and championing the process to update our mission, vision, and values over the past couple years. In short, the ministry of The Summit will continue and our commitment to help you follow Jesus will continue. 

Q: Where is Pastor Jim going?

Pastor Jim and MaryAnn will continue to live in the area. Pastor Jim’s primary goal in his retirement is to leave the church in good hands and do whatever it takes for The Summit to be successful in the future.

Q: What is our denomination’s role in this?

Our Pastor Parish Relations Committee has been actively involved in discussions together to facilitate this transition. Our lay leadership in the church have the same goal in mind: continued meaningful ministry in our community and continuity in leadership. 

Q: What is being done to honor Pastor Jim’s ministry?

The first half of 2023 will be a “victory tour” for Pastor Jim. We will have opportunities to reflect on Pastor Jim’s ministry, share together at events, and honor Pastor Jim and MaryAnn for the loving service they have provided. Check out those celebrations on our events page at www.thesummit.church/events.

Q: Where can I ask additional questions?

There are a few places that you can go for answers to your questions. If you have questions about logistics and process, contact Pastor Jim or Pastor Ryan.