The Church of Saint John officially has a new leader.

An Institution of a new Rector ceremony Wednesday night celebrated the Rev. Father Jeffrey Walker Reich, known as Father Jeff, and his new partnership with Laurel’s Episcopal Church.

A Meridian High School, Mississippi State University, and Seabury Western Theological Seminary graduate, Reich has spent much of his time working with churches and youth in North Mississippi. He has been involved with Saint John’s several Sunday’s, but has also spent a great deal of time working with a young adult program. He is officially full-time with the local church now.

Reich becomes the 10th rector for the church since it was founded in 1894. He replaces the Rev. Stan Runnels who relocated to Kansas in 2006 after nearly two decades in Laurel.

The new rector says the new church has already welcomed he and his family into the congregation. He said he has already seen the great way his congregation works to better the community, including the welcoming of Reich, his wife, Catherine, and their children, Mattie Grace and Thomas Michael.

“We’re settled in,” Reich said. “The people of Laurel have been really good.”

With many years experience of working with young adults and youth, Reich said the church has already responded to his desire for more outreach to these target groups. He said September will welcome Sunday School classes for all age groups and a new young adult program.

“They’ve responded in a major way,” Reich said.

The church has been going through the process of calling a new rector the past three years, he said. The process includes working with the church to find out needs and desires, and matching those ideas with a leader who has the same desires and strengths.

He will continue to teach faith building, which is a life-long work, he said, along with community service. He said the church should be visible in a community, and Saint John’s is already making an impact locally.