Staff Leadership

Teaching Pastors

Bill Hybels

The founding and senior pastor of Willow Creek Community Church and chairman of the board for the Willow Creek Association, Bill is passionate about seeing the local church reach its full, God-given potential. He has authored of more than 20 books, including Axiom, Holy Discontent, Just Walk Across the Room, Courageous Leadership, and The Power of a Whisper. Bill trains Christian leaders from around the world to help transform individuals and their communities for Christ. "The local church," he says, "is the hope of the world." Bill received a bachelor's degree in Biblical Studies and an honorary Doctorate of Divinity from Trinity College in Deerfield, IL. He and his wife, and co-founder of Willow, Lynne, have two grown children and one grandson.

Darren Whitehead

Originally from Australia, Darren serves as a teaching pastor at Willow Creek and leads Willow's Next Gen ministries and Creative Arts department. He and fellow Aussie Jon Tyson co-authored Rumors of God (2011). Prior to coming to Willow, Darren served as teaching pastor and director of student ministries at The People’s Church in Nashville, TN. Darren and his wife, Brandy, have three half-Aussie, half-American daughters.