Church of the Highlands, Chris Hodge

Who is new Church of the Highlands Lead Pastor Mark Pettus?
Hodges, 61, announced Feb. 2 that the Rev. Mark Pettus will be the new lead pastor of the Church of the Highlands. Pettus, 43, will turn 44 on April 4. He got involved as a college student at UAB, soon after the Church of the Highlands launched with services in 2001 at the Mountain Brook High School fine arts center.
Why Chris Hodges stepped down as lead pastor of the Church of the Highlands
Pastor Chris Hodges announced that he will be transitioning to founding pastor of Church of the Highlands with Pastor Mark Pettus as the new lead pastor.
Church of the Highlands Pastor Chris Hodges announces transition of leadership: 'God's hand is all over this'
Chris Hodges, founder of the Church of the Highlands in Birmingham, Alabama, announced Sunday he is stepping down as lead pastor of the church, the largest religious congregation in the state, to
Why Church of the Highlands Pastor Chris Hodges left the top job at megachurch he founded
Church of the Highlands Founding Pastor Chris Hodges, shown in his office where he serves as chancellor of Highlands College, announced on Feb. 2, 2025, that he's turned over lead pastor duties to Pastor Mark Pettus to focus on his work at the college. (Photo by Greg Garrison/AL.com)
Leadership transition announced at Church of the Highlands
Church of the Highlands has announced a leadership transition. According to a news release, current Lead and Founding Pastor Chris Hodges will step into a new role to help grow Highlands College, which is a four-year institution for students pursuing full-time ministry.
Church of the Highlands founder to switch focus to leadership development
Pettus joined the Church of the Highlands staff in 2006 as a youth pastor. In 2009, he started the MOTION Conference, a Christian gathering for high school and college students. Pettus has served as president of Highlands College since it was founded in 2011, leading it to become an accredited institution for students pursuing ministry.
Alabama police lieutenant killed while directing traffic outside church: 'True public servant'
Irondale police Lt. Mark Meadows died on Monday after he was hit by a truck while directing traffic outside Alabama's Church of the Highlands.
Former pastor of Highland Park church accused of solicitation of prostitution last fall
A former executive minister of Highland Park United Methodist Church resigned and turned himself in to police on solicitation ...
Church votes to end lease with Highlands Latin School after Courier Journal report
The school has been a tenant of the church since 2002. Congregants voted not to renew its lease following troubling ...
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Alabama police lieutenant killed while directing traffic outside church
Church of the Highlands lead pastor Chris Hodges said Meadows had worked with the church since its main campus at Grants Mill opened almost 18 years ago. In a statement to AL.com, Hodges said ...