On May 1, 2023, the Rev. Isaac Petty began his ministry as the tenth Rector of St James Church.
Fr. Isaac was born and raised in an evangelical church in rural Kentucky before moving to Nashville, TN for his undergraduate degree in religion, during which time he found himself at home in The Episcopal Church. Following his time in Nashville, Fr. Isaac lived in Central Europe, aiding in refugee resettlement during the 2015-2016 Syrian wave of the global refugee crisis. When he moved back to the United States, Fr. Isaac landed in Kansas City for his seminary studies and was confirmed as an Episcopalian. He holds Master of Divinity and MA in Intercultural Studies degrees, a graduate certificate in spiritual formation, and is a Trinity Leadership Fellow.
Fr. Isaac was ordained to the diaconate in November 2020 and to the priesthood in May 2021. From January 2021 to April 2023, Fr. Isaac served two congregations in the Kansas City, MO area – as an assisting priest at Church of the Redeemer near Parkville and as Vicar of The Church of Saint Luke the Beloved Physician in Excelsior Springs. During those years, he was also elected as Dean of the Central Deanery of The Diocese of West Missouri, a coalition of 17 churches in the central third of our diocese.
Now, serving at St James, Fr. Isaac is loving his ministry as pastor and priest to our diverse and enthusiastic parish. He lives in St James’ Rectory with his two rescue dogs, Milo and Teddy. When not engaged in his ministry to this parish and diocese, Fr. Isaac can be found gardening (or at the plant nursery), enjoying a craft coffee shop, playing music, or taking his dogs to the dog park. Fr. Isaac is engaged to be married to the Rev. Joe Pierjok, Rector of Grace Episcopal Church in Carthage, MO.
