On Wednesday, June 15, 2022, Fr. Michael Hurst announced his resignation as Rector of St. James Episcopal Church. In a letter to the Parish, Fr. Michael explains the motivation for his departure and a timeline for the next few weeks. Provided below is the letter as well as a statement from Kenneth Lawrence, our Senior Warden, regarding the resignation and the road ahead. We are thankful for the time that Fr. Michael has spent leading our congregation and are already praying for the next rector, whomever they may be.

June 15th, 2022

Re., Pastoral Letter

Dear St. James Family,

After much prayer and discernment, Gilda and I have decided to sell our house in McKinney and move to Sarasota, Florida. This move is in preparation for my retirement, which is approaching quickly (in about seven years). We feel that the time is right to optimize our profit on the sale of our home, and Sarasota is where Gilda and I have decided to live in retirement.

I have not accepted a call as a rector of another parish. Instead, I have taken a position as an associate at a church in Sarasota. I plan to begin work in Sarasota on August 1^st. My last Sunday with St. James will be July 17^th. I will take two weeks’ vacation to finish packing our home and cleaning up some final projects before loading my truck and heading to the other side of the Gulf.

This decision did not come easy as St. James is a beautiful community of Christian believers. We hope that we leave with lots of friends and well-wishers. Please know that you are always welcome to visit us in Sarasota. We would love to show you around the city in which we have fallen in love.

My office door is always open if you would like to stop by and talk. Further, please feel free to call my cell, 214-551-4531, if you want to talk.

With warmest regards,

Fr. Michael+

Dear Friends and Fellow Parishioners,

While the news of Fr. Michael’s departure comes as a surprise to us all, I am excited for him and Gilda as they begin to transition into the next season of their lives and hope you will join me in sending them off well.

I am also excited for St. James and looking forward to what the future holds for our congregation and community. There have been seven rectors since our church achieved parish status in 1959, and Fr. Michael has done well stewarding our congregation during his time with us, including through the pandemic.

I do not know who our next Rector will be, and having gone through this process, I can tell you that there is much ground to cover before we get there. I assure you that the Vestry, Clergy, and Staff members will work together in the interim to ensure that St. James continues to be a welcoming place of worship for our members and those in our community.

We will strive to provide excellent services with inspirational preaching, moving music, and opportunities to know God through God’s people. We will work to ensure that St. James is not the “best-kept secret” in Lake Highlands as we invite and encourage all to share in the community here. And we will continue to build God’s kingdom as we await the person who will steward our church through the following season.

I implore you to celebrate with Fr. Michael and Gilda, pray for our next Rector, whomever they may be, and continue to make St. James the friendliest corner in Lake Highlands.

Kenneth D. Lawrence