New Rector Set to Lead St. Margaret’s, Inverness, in Ministry and Mission

For the Rev. Mike Gumulauskas, leadership isn’t just about words. It’s about action. And that’s exactly what he has in mind for himself in his new ministry as rector at St. Margaret’s, Inverness.

Outreach ministries are plentiful at St. Margaret’s, but with a congregation of a little less than 100, the number of volunteers is limited, he said. However, as a servant of God, he doesn’t mind coming alongside parishioners to ensure God’s mission work is accomplished.

“Ministries produce volunteers,” Gumulauskas said. “Volunteers produce growth in the church and that, in turn, produces voice and community outreach. It starts with a core that’s internal, that is willing to do the hard work to get parishioners involved. The church has a small volunteer pool. But the church has all the ministries you can have that could really flourish. The church just needs someone to help show the rest of the people how to go alongside and do the ministry work. I serve with my people. I don’t just sit there and talk about stuff on Sundays. I work with them, and I’m going to work with them to make a difference in our community.”

That attitude is only one of the qualities the nine-person search committee looked for when choosing a new leader for St. Margaret’s. It’s a reputation Gumulauskas, who took over at St. Margaret’s in early June, built in his previous position as rector at St. Andrew’s, Darien, Georgia, a rural church with a congregation of 70.

“During the interview process, Father Mike shared his story of salvation that revealed a touching example of true commitment to bring others to Christ,” search committee coordinator Sharron Thornton said. “His examples of personal involvement with people, direct communication, leading by doing and being a grassroots helping agent were impressive. We felt that would help St. Margaret’s in many ways.”

Thornton said Gumulauskas provided specific examples of changes he hopes to implement that would be beneficial for St. Margaret’s.

“He talked about adding additional services attracting parishioners of different needs, interests and comfort levels,” Thornton said. “These included getting our church out in the community with involvement in farmer’s markets, festivals, holiday events and adding contemporary music [to the church’s worship services].”

The rector’s wife, LeeAnn, is active in the Order of the Daughters of the King and also now in Sunday school at their new parish. Their sons, Ezekiel (11), and Boaz (9), are involved in the youth ministry and attend St. John Paul II Catholic school in Inverness. The couple also has a daughter, Mykenzi (22), who lives in Wisconsin.

“The whole family is stoked about this opportunity,” Gumulauskas said. “My wife is especially excited. She’s a mental health therapist, and she likes to talk with and be with people, and that plays right into the ministry here.”

The new rector has not only aspirations to grow St. Margaret’s spiritually, but also in numbers – something else the search committee took notice of. Gumulauskas said that will only be an extension of the Rt. Rev. Dr. Justin S. Holcomb’s continuing mission to bring the gospel of Christ to the people of Central Florida.

“My hope for the church is to grow it in a way that meets the needs of the communities around it and by bringing everybody to the altar to stop the barriers, whatever they may be – to start loving people,” Gumulauskas said. “We need to get out and be personable and loving to our neighbors – and that’s what the gospel is all about. I am a practical theologian. I want to bring people on missions trips and do ministries. I want to bring those practical things into the life of people again because I think that may be something we’re missing, the practical aspect of our faith.”

His ministry follows that of the Rev. Mason Waldhauser, who concluded his service at St. Margaret’s in August 2025 to become associate rector for adult formation at Church of the Redeemer, Sarasota. Since then, the Rt. Rev. William Jay Lambert III, who ordained Gumulauskas in Wisconsin, provided stability for St. Margaret’s and led worship services as the clergy-in-charge.