Darrel Proffitt, who has been senior pastor at Saint Margaret's Episcopal Church for nearly 10 years, is leaving to become rector at Church of the Holy Apostles in Katy, Texas. His last Sunday preaching in Lawrence is Sunday.

Darrel Proffitt didn’t see it coming.

He figured he’d be at St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church – a congregation he helped build – for the rest of his career.

So when he felt God calling him to a church in a Houston suburb, he was surprised.

“I wasn’t looking to leave,” Proffitt says. “But someone once told me if you want to see God laugh, tell him your plans. I really thought I’d be here until retirement.”

Proffitt, 51, would have started his 10th year at St. Margaret’s in January. Instead, he’ll leave later this month to become rector at Church of the Holy Apostles in Katy, Texas. His last Sunday preaching in Lawrence is tomorrow.

There are clear parallels between the two congregations.

Both are fairly new – St. Margaret’s was founded in 1997, while Holy Apostles was founded in 1994. They’re both in newer areas (St. Margaret’s is at 5700 W. Sixth St.). And they’re both progressive congregations within a denomination known for its long tradition.

“It’s an Episcopal Church, but like St. Margaret’s, it’s not handcuffed by tradition,” Proffitt says.

In Proffitt’s nearly 10 years with St. Margaret’s, the church has grown from a weekend attendance of 150 to about 600, now in five services. It’s grown from two full-time staff members to six, and added a $1.7 million second building.

Now that St. Margaret’s is becoming a more established church, Proffitt says he wasn’t sure he was the right pastor to serve it.

“One of my passions is really being on the edge,” he says. “I’m living on the edge. That’s where the church in Houston is – and they want me to help them.”

Not traditional

Reaction at St. Margaret’s has been mixed, says Randy Ham, who is a member of the church’s vestry.

“I think there’s a lot of disappointment and hurt feelings,” Ham says. “But not for me – I’m excited for him, and for the people of Katy, Texas. What a lucky congregation.”

Ham grew up in the Episcopal church, and he says Proffitt and St. Margaret’s are nothing like the Episcopal church he grew up in.

“He isn’t the traditional Episcopal priest,” Ham says. “He’s not about the Episcopal religion, and neither is this church. He’s very much focused on Jesus Christ. He’s not this style that you never feel like he’s preaching to you. You feel like you’re chatting, even in sermons.”

Proffitt says he has viewed the Episcopal church as a resource, while too many mainline churches are worried about the survival of their denomination.

“I’ve always said the fact I’m an Episcopal priest shows God’s sense of humor,” he says. “I don’t like the ‘churchy church.'”

But while St. Margaret’s contemporary services are growing, it has kept traditional services as well.

The Rev. Dean Wolfe, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas, says the multi-style model of St. Margaret’s is exactly what most mainline churches will look like in the future.

“Some research indicates that this next generation of Christians may be moving back to more ancient expressions of the Christian faith,” Wolfe says. “I think we are entering a time when more and more Christian churches will be offering a diversity of worship opportunities for their members.

“Some people prefer more meditative forms of worship, and others prefer worship with electric guitars and drums. Some prefer contemporary and more inclusive language, and others prefer the language of a previous century. In the future, I believe very few churches will offer only one style of worship, and St. Margaret’s clearly models this kind of diversity.”

For that reason, and because of the church’s location, Wolfe thinks the church has a solid future.

“They have a wonderful new facility in an ideal location, and most importantly, they have a clear sense of purpose,” Wolfe says. “These are people who seek to know Christ and to make Christ known, and one should never underestimate a community of faith with that kind of goal.”

Church’s future

Proffitt agrees that St. Margaret’s future is bright.

“St. Margaret’s will continue to be St. Margaret’s,” he says. “I see it flourishing. A big part of my heart will continue to be here.”

Ham says church leadership is expecting an interim pastor to be appointed soon, with a full-time pastor in anywhere from six to 18 months.

“The reality is there’s a lot of people who go to that church just for Darrel,” Ham says, “and those people will probably stop coming. The other reality is just as many will come for the new priest.”

Ham says St. Margaret’s will look forward to the next chapter in its life, even as it looks back on the Proffitt years.

“We’re going to find that next step,” Ham says. “It’s a church that we’ve all built, not just Darrel. And he’s the first to admit that.”