After 15 years of serving churches in crisis, Kent Winters-Hazelton is looking to settle down.

He started in November as the new permanent pastor at First Presbyterian Church, 2415 Clinton Parkway, a church that has had interim pastors for three years.

“It’s been a long time, and the church has felt it’s been a long time,” Winters-Hazelton says. “They’re very happy to tell me they want me to stick around awhile.”

First Presbyterian has been without a permanent pastor since Jim Duncan left in 2004. A series of interim pastors have been appointed since then.

Winters-Hazelton most recently served as interim pastor at First Presbyterian Church in East Hampton, N.Y.

Before that, he served as an interim pastor in nine congregations that were going through various crises. He says he became a “specialist” in helping churches through rough times.

But at age 53, he decided he was ready to have a church of his own again. He grew up in Berkeley, Calif., went to seminary at Princeton and has served churches on both coasts. This is his first time to live in the Midwest.

While Lawrence First Presbyterian isn’t going through a crisis like some of his previous appointments, Winters-Hazelton says he wants to reassure his 750-member congregation after a period of uncertainty.

“The most important thing I can do initially is let them know they’re OK,” he says. “They’re a good church, have good programs, a good facility and a good location. They have a lot to offer the community.”

Winters-Hazelton is married to Carolynn Winters-Hazelton, another Presbyterian pastor. She has been working with the Presbytery of Northern Kansas to find a ministry opportunity.