An important change in leadership recently took place in the Topeka Kansas Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a region — like a diocese — that includes about 1,500 Latter-day Saints in Lawrence.

The new president of the Topeka Kansas Stake is Mark Elliott, of Topeka. His first counselor is Ronald Cluff, of Lawrence, who will step down as bishop of the Lawrence 2nd Ward, 3615 W. 10th St.

Elliott’s second counselor is Carl Gile of Topeka.

Elliott replaces Dennis Karpowitz, of Lawrence, a longtime professor of psychology at Kansas University, who served the past nine years as stake president.

Cluff replaces Howard Rytting, a professor of pharmaceutical chemistry at KU, who also served the past nine years as first counselor.

Gile replaces John Christensen of Topeka, who served the past five years as second counselor.

Karpowitz, Cluff and Rytting are members of the Lawrence 2nd Ward.

The Topeka Kansas Stake has seven wards — like a parish or congregation — and four branches, which have smaller membership than a ward.

Lawrence has three wards and one branch. They are: Lawrence 1st Ward and Lawrence 2nd Ward (which share a building); Lawrence University Ward, 1629 W. 19th St.; and Haskell University Branch, 120 Indian Ave.

Leadership changes at the stake level are common every nine or 10 years.