The decision of an Overland Park church to split from the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas shouldn’t have any fallout in Lawrence, a local pastor said Monday.

“It doesn’t mean anything here,” said the Rev. Darrel Proffitt, of the 900-member St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church, 5700 W. Sixth St. “That was an individual choice for an individual church.”

Christ Episcopal Church in Overland Park left the broader Episcopal denomination over theological differences — especially the decision at its 2003 General Convention to confirm the election of an openly gay bishop.

Such debates won’t become a problem here, Proffitt said.

“Lots of churches get hunkered down on things and lose focus on their mission,” he said. “We’re not focused on anything but meeting our mission, which is reaching out with the gospel of Jesus Christ.”

The Rev. Jonathon Jensen of Trinity Episcopal Church, 1011 Vt., said he hated to see the Overland Park congregation depart.

“We’re saddened to see them leave,” he said.

Jensen’s church, which averages around 275 attendees on Sundays, also has tried to avoid a destructive argument.

“We’ve tried to create a Christian community where everybody is welcome,” Jensen said. “That means everybody — those who agree with the national church and those who don’t.”