Drew Crowson and the Parish Model Approach to Church Planting

What does it take to start a brand-new church in one of the fastest-growing cities in the U.S.? In this episode, Loren Richmond Jr. talks with Drew Crowson, an Episcopal priest in the Diocese of Dallas planting a church in Celina, Texas—a city where 800 new residents arrive every month and there’s never been an Episcopal congregation. Drew shares his journey from growing up Baptist in East Texas, to ministry roles in Germany, the Middle East, and Alabama, to finding a spiritual home in the Anglican tradition. He explains why he believes the parish model is the future of the church, how a preschool can be a vital ministry and funding source, and the discipline it takes to keep showing up—even when no one else does. Whether you’re in church leadership, thinking about starting something new, or just curious about what it takes to plant a church in today’s cultural climate, this conversation is both honest and inspiring.

They discuss:

• Why liturgy and the Book of Common Prayer resonate with non-liturgical Christians

• How to plant a church in a mainline denomination with little recent church-planting history

• Balancing entrepreneurial hustle with slow, patient spiritual formation

• The importance of pastoral boundaries for family health

• Building a prayer team and cultivating resilience in ministry

 

Drew Crowson is a church planter in the Episcopal Diocese of Dallas. Before stepping into church planting, he served in young adult and youth ministry in diverse contexts—from Dallas to Düsseldorf, Germany, an oil compound in the Middle East, and Auburn, Alabama. Deeply shaped by the early 2000s emergent church movement, his journey ultimately led him deeper into Jesus and into the Anglican tradition. Drew is married to an incredible woman, and together they are raising three young children who daily remind them of their ongoing need for grace.

 

Mentioned Resources:

📱 Celina instagram: @adventcelina

🌐 Drew's Substack: https://substack.com/@andrewcrowson

🌐 WashPark UMC: https://www.washparkumc.org

 

Other Church planting episodes:

🎧 Cameron Trimble: https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-8siub-10d0a4d

🎧 Paula Stone Williams: https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-pgxda-f59f19

🎧 Tim Morey: https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-25zwi-1059d6d

🎧 Nick Warnes: https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-ketw5-1172f9e

🎧 Jonah Overton: https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-y28bz-13457f4

🎧 Even More: https://www.podbean.com/ep/pb-wzbs7-173f5fc

 

Presenting Sponsor:

Phillips Seminary Join conversations that expose you to new ideas, deepen your commitment and give insights to how we can minister in a changing world. 

 

Supporting Sponsors:

Restore Clergy If you are clergy in need of tailored, professional support to help you manage the demands of ministry, Restore Clergy is for you!

Kokoro  Join in for heartfelt journeys that challenges the way we see ourselves, each other, and the world we share.

 

Future Christian Team:

Loren Richmond Jr. – Host & Executive Producer

Martha Tatarnic – Co-Host

Paul Romig–Leavitt – Associate Producer

Dennis Sanders – Producer

Alexander Lang - Production Assistant