DEMOPOLIS &8212; The Rev. Aaron Raulerson will soon be leaving his parish at Trinity Episcopal Church to take over the parish of the Church of the Holy Cross in Trussville.

Raulerson said he deliberated on the decision to leave Demopolis after he was asked to take the job at the church in a suburb of Birmingham. Though he feels a deep connection to his congregation and the town of Demopolis, he said he felt led to take the new position.

Raulerson said the church sought him out for the position initially, and one of the biggest reasons for his decision to take the position was the growth of the area in which the church is located, in which the population has doubled in the past 15 years. He said the church is the only Episcopal parish in that part of north Jefferson County, so there is potential for growth.

He said the church doesn&8217;t have a significantly bigger congregation than that of Trinity. He said because of the growth of the area and the size of the congregation, he feels the church hasn&8217;t fully realized its potential.

Raulerson said though he is leaving the church where he has spent the last four years, he would miss the church and the area, which has become his home. He said the area would always be special to him and his family.

He said he and the family would continue to maintain their ties in the area even after the move and Trinity&8217;s selection of a new leader. He said Trinity would soon begin its discernment process for bringing in a new reverend.

Raulerson said he didn&8217;t know how long the process to find a new minister for Trinity would take, but that he and his family are currently looking for a home in Trussville and his last Sunday at Trinity will be June 10.