Wichita ? The largest black church in the state has learned it is losing its pastor at the end of June.

The Rev. Tyrone Gordon spoke in a shaky voice Sunday as he told his congregation at St. Mark United Methodist Church that he was leaving to lead the 7,800-member St. Luke Community United Methodist Church in Dallas.

“We love St. Mark,” he said. “We are comfortable at St. Mark. God has tremendously blessed our ministry here.”

The church grew from 250 members to more than 2,500 members under Gordon’s leadership.

The only larger United Methodist church in the state is the 7,000-member Church of the Resurrection in Johnson County.

Gordon, 45, said he is most proud of his church’s racial diversity. Although the church is predominantly black, 15 percent of its members are of other races.

The congregation some of them teary eyed gave Gordon a standing ovation at both Sunday morning services.

The Los Angeles native had ties to Dallas. He graduated from Bishop College and then went to seminary at Southern Methodist University, both in Dallas.

There will be a national search to find the next senior pastor for St. Mark, said the Rev. Chuck Winkler, United Methodist district superintendent.

Gordon has served on the Wichita school board. He also has served on the board of directors of the Wichita Children’s Home and the Salvation Army Advisory Board.

“He’s going to be missed by a lot of people,” said the Rev. Kevass Harding of Dellrose United Methodist Church.