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If you are passing by and feel hesitant to join the ranks of a particular denomination or buy into the creeds of millions, please know that most people who enter St. Mark's every week are practicing no regular religious discipline. The rule of St. Mark's is the stranger making himself/herself at home. All names are sacred here but none must place one's name on a membership list to be taken seriously. Perhaps you quietly dropped by wanting to reconnect in your relationship with God. Or to surrender a burden. Or pray for a loved one. Or to meditate on a hard personal dilemma. Or find a moment of peace. A cathedral has a high ceiling and long aisles to allow the contained soul an opportunity to venture forth in multiple directions without the encumbrances of forced community. St. Mark's offers ages of spiritual space to which anonymous individuals may be on pilgrimage. |
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Enter, pray, and may your time here be blessed.
ST. MARK'S PARISH PROFILE 2010
Who we are
Worship & Liturgy
Programs
Outreach programs
The Cathedral staff
The Cathedral property
Episcopal Church Center of Utah
Budget
Community profile
Summary: Qualities we seek in our new Dean
Previous Deans
The Cathedral Church of St. Mark is a progressive, urban parish open to people of all socio-economic, cultural and educational backgrounds. Here are some of our voices:
"We're open to everyone worshiping with us and being part of us. There is little judgment about how wealthy one is, how one dresses, what sexual orientation one has, how old or young one is."
"I believe it's quite diverse, ranging from families to single people, and I like the different cultures represented."
"I experienced a big crisis in my life -- looked for a safe place -- found it and life, and love the Eucharist and worship; I feel the presence of God here."
"It is important we maintain a diverse and inclusive community at St. Mark's in a place that is so conservative. We need to be the voice of reason and compassion."
"The building got me here. The liturgy kept me here."
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St. Mark’s is the cathedral church for the Diocese of Utah. Bothe the parish and the diocese are in a period of transition. St. Mark's congregation is looking for a priest who will fill the vacancy of our recently retired dean, the Very Reverend Frederick Q. Lawson. Our 10th Bishop, the Right Reverend Carolyn Tanner Irish retired on November 6, 2010, passing the crozier to her successor, Bishop Scott Hayashi, former Canon to the Ordinary of the diocese of Chicago. An exciting time lies ahead for the diocese and our parish as new leaders step into new roles!
St. Mark's congregation is looking for a dean with several years' experience managing a larger urban parish. We are looking for a person whose skills include being liturgically well-grounded, a skilled preacher, a pastor to the afflicted, fiscally frugal, and capable of managing staff and volunteers with respect and kindness. The ideal candidate will have experience increasing the size of a congregation, developing leaders, and growing stewardship.
The majority of St. Mark's parishioners are of middle age and well-educated professionals. The parish is predominantly Causasian with a small contingency of African-born members which is growing. We have a number of elderly people – many of whom are widowed. We have approximately 15 families with infants and children who are active in the life of the parish. Our downtown location draws homeless and/or transient people who often seek assistance and sometimes join us for worship.
The St. Mark's congregation comes from a radius of 35 miles. We practice traditional liturgies but would generally be considered socially progressive. We strive to be flexible, open and tolerant. A number of our parishioners are longtime Episcopalians. A fair percentage comes from other faith traditions as well. The Cathedral attracts inquirers who are in spiritual transition and are searching for a home church. We wish to do more to reach out to these people and our neighbors. Our church and congregation have a rich history to share. We also wish to share our knowledge and understanding of issues that arise in a community where the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints plays a dominant role in everyday life.
"Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?"
BPC, Service of Holy Baptism
We see The Cathedral Church of St. Mark not only as our place of worship but also as a beacon of Christianity to the community. In addition to daily services and prayers we are a Christian place of education and outreach, open to all. The congregation is proud of our position as the Cathedral for the Diocese of Utah and seat for our Bishop. (for more information on the Diocese of Utah, navigate to http://www.episcopal-ut.org)
Our mailing list numbers approximately 415, with 40 percent attending regular church services. About half the list comprises single people; a quarter is one- or two-parent families with children at home, and the remaining quarter are couples either with no children or are “empty-nesters”. The long-time Episcopalian members are a stable constituency. A smaller percentage is mobile and turns over fairly frequently.
We are faithful to the 1979 Book of Common Prayer and use the prescribed liturgies for the seasons. Most of us adhere to an interpretive rather than a literal understanding of scripture and liturgy. Music is an important element of worship. The choir includes several professionally trained voices. Major feast days are often celebrated with professional musicians augmenting the choir. A new organ (currently being built with choir loft reconstruction and installation anticipated by Advent 2011) will further enhance our music program.
"Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the whole earth."
Psalm 96:1
St. Mark’s has been blessed with a history of strong preaching. Our 3 active clergy and 4 retired clergy preach on a rotational basis and are valued by the whole congregation. We hope our new dean will help us carry on the legacy our retired clergy offer and call these talented men and women to continued service.
Two Eucharist services are offered Sunday mornings with Rite I at 8 a.m. and Rite II at 10:30 a.m. Attendance at the early service varies between 5-15, with 125-175 attending the later service. The Eucharist is also celebrated every weekday and Saturday evening. The total number of weekly communicants averages 260. Average weekly attendance has grown modestly over the past several years. The Cathedral seats approximately 475, but on major feast days attendance can swell “to the rafters!”
Youth ministries tend a small but dedicated group of children. The Sunday school has approximately 40 students, 15-20 of whom are regulars. A pool of 10 teachers serve periodically for a quarter (12 weeks) using the Group Hands-on Bible Curriculum.
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The acolyte program works well, with a regular complement of acolytes serving the 10:30 Sunday worship. The Youth Group has 15-20 young people who are involved in community building activities such as service projects, retreats, lock-ins, and recreational activities that abound here. We believe there is ample room for additional participants. Our downtown location affords many nearby recreational opportunities such as parks, skating, movies, planetarium, theaters, museums, all visited by our St. Mark’s youth. In Utah, where the LDS Church dominates the spiritual and social life of its young people, our youth need support as they search for their place and identity in the adult world.
We do not currently have a program that ministers to college students. The large number of students attending nearby colleges and universities opens an opportunity for us to expand our outreach.
Adult education classes meet through the academic year Sunday mornings. Study has ranged from traditional scriptural studies, history of the Anglican Church, history of church music, women of the New Testament, programs on death and dying, sexuality, religion and violence, and other contemporary topics and issues. A Bible study and lunch on Thursdays attracts 30 or more people. Some programs have been made available to the larger community and have involved people who were initially reluctant to participate in more formal religious programs.
Flower and altar guilds, lay readers, acolytes, choir, ushers, and lay servers at Eucharist are active ministries which support our worship services. We also have Lay Eucharistic Visitors who undergo formal training prior to being permitted to take the Eucharist to housebound and ill parishioners and those in long-term care facilities.
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At present we have a number of working committees dealing with all aspects of parish life including finance, building and grounds, pastoral care, and Christian education. The time and work of these numerous committee members is critical to the operation of the parish. We are looking for ways to better coordinate and integrate these efforts and recognize our faithful congregants who work on these committees.
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A variety of programs enable members to come together for social, educational and outreach opportunities. Monthly meetings at the Cathedral complex include Community of Hope, Feed My Sheep, Centering Prayer, Young Families, Youth Group, Bridge Group, Genealogy Group, and Saturday Night at the Movies. Such programs give many members a meaningful connection to the parish and keep them active in our community outside Sunday services. Two monthly dinner groups meet in parishioners' homes and are well attended by 25-50 people each. The dinner groups provide a casual and lively forum for discussion.
Annual activities include the Blessing of the Animals on a Sunday close to the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the reading of the All Saints/All Souls Day necrology, Advent Lessons and Carols on the first Sunday of Advent, Shrove Tuesday pancake supper, Lenten study series and occasional rummage sales. Several times a year the Library Committee presents a forum on contemporary and controversial topics. These activities are attended by both the public and congregants. |
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The Cathedral welcomes many non-profit community groups who use our facilities for meetings and fund-raisers. We see this as a form of outreach and potentially attract new members. It is also a way to enhance the Episcopal Church presence and visibility in the greater community.
Cathedral members serve on a variety of diocesan committees and fill several key leadership positions. Several members of the diocesan staff are also members of the parish. The Interfaith Roundtable and other community faith activities and programs are supported by both clergy and parishioners.
The principal outreach program of the Cathedral is Hildegarde’s Pantry, which is housed in a newly constructed building on Cathedral property. Hildegarde’s has supported members of the community for over 26 years. The food pantry serves an average of 1,400 households (2,980 individuals) per month. It is funded by the parish, income from a portion of our endowed funds and the community at large. |
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| Other outreach programs we support include donations to The Millennium Development Goals, three Episcopal seminaries, Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD), and various disaster relief efforts. |
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Each year the Advent Lessons and Carols plate offering is donated to a community organization such as Family Promise, Utah AIDS Foundation, Holy Cross Ministries, and Crossroads Urban Center, among others. |
The Cathedral full-time staff includes the Dean, a Canon Precentor, Parish Administrator, Administrative Assistant, Sexton. Part-time staff include a Deacon and Organist/Choirmaster. We have four non-stipendiary retired associate priests who regularly participate in worship services and play an important part in our parish life.
The Episcopal Church holds an historic and prominent position in the community. The Dean is often in the spotlight concerning religious, ethical, and social justice issues. The current Dean is a member of the Central Salt Lake Council of Churches and participates in a monthly discussion group comprising representatives from several Christian denominations within the community as well as the LDS Church. St. Mark’s has offered Interfaith Thanksgiving Service, Advent Lessons and Carols, and Blessing of the Animals to the community.
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"May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing through the power of the Holy Spirit."
Romans 15:13
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Construction of a new parish hall with commercial kitchen and office-classroom-meeting room complex was completed in 2007, under the direction of the Very Rev. Rick Lawson. This recent construction was designed to be energy efficient and "user friendly." The Cathedral Center has hosted both the Dean's conference and Diocesan annual meetings as well as many local charitable and arts organizations' fund raisers. Meeting space throughout the new complex is utilized weekly by groups including Bible Study, Centering Prayer, Education for Ministry, The Mustard Seed (church book and gift store), Choir, and a large Narcotics Anonymous group with 60-100 participants. We are fortunate to have facilities that are attractive, functional, energy-efficient and often in use.
EPISCOPAL CHURCH CENTER OF UTAH
Adjacent to the Cathedral is the newly completed and eco-friendly Episcopal Church Center of Utah. The ECCU houses the diocesan administrative offices, the Wasatch Conference Center, a 28-bed retreat and hospitality wing, classrooms, large gathering spaces and a well stocked bookstore. The ECCU hosts national meetings of The Episcopal Church bodies, non-profit organizations from across the state and groups from within our diocese. The ECCU chapel was a gift from the people of St. Mark's Cathedral. Ite is a quiet place where all guests are welcome to rest and pray. Bishop Carolyn Tanner Irish oversaw the design and construction of this center.
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The two campuses are connected by a tranquil courtyard centered on a prayer labyrinth. The setting invites visitors to pray under a blue-sky canopy or within the cool confines of the sandstone structure of the Cathedral. Together, they provide place and space for contemplation, spiritual growth and continuing education, both religious and secular. Additionally, the ECCU and the Cathedral are gathering places for the arts as well as common ground for points of contact in a worldwide network of Christian communication.
"We who are many are one body, for we all share in the one bread."
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The 2010 budget for St. Mark’s reflects revenues of $617,000. We have a history of being able to keep our expenses in line with our revenues. Roughly 28% of the budgeted expenses are clergy related, 36% lay staff related, and 17% facilities related. The balance of 19% covers all other expenses, including our diocesan assessment. Our revenues have grown approximately 25% over the past 8 years. We have received 121 pledges this year to date, and approximately 200 people regularly contribute.
Many parishes commonly derive a disproportionate amount of their revenue from a small number of donors. St. Mark’s Cathedral is no different in this regard. In particular, one donor contributes approximately 30% of our total revenues. We are grateful for this support and have been assured that it will be ongoing. Additionally, the parish has an endowment and other specifically designated funds that provide a degree of financial flexibility. One of our goals however, is to broaden our base of support and increase the level of contribution by those who can afford to do so. Taking on more of the church's financial reponsibility and lessening dependency on major donors will strengthen the church as a whole.
Salt Lake City anchors a metropolitan area of more than a million people and is the financial and commercial center for the Intermountain West. It is a city of wide tree-lined streets with scenic vistas of the Wasatch Mountains on the east and the Oquirrh Mountains to the west. Founded as a utopian community by Mormon pioneers in 1847, the city is the spiritual and administrative center for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. LDS church members comprise approximately 50% of the state's population and about 40% of the city’s. Salt Lake City has been culturally and religiously diverse since its early days when railroad and mining interests made the city an important crossroads in the 1870s.
"O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: let the whole earth stand in awe of him."
Psalm 96:9
The Episcopal Church held its first service in Utah in 1867, 20 years after Mormon pioneers arrived in the Salt Lake Valley. The first Episcopal bishop in Utah was missionary Bishop Daniel Sylvester Tuttle. He began a career of wide-ranging public service and influence that made him well respected in the community and far exceeded the church's numbers. Utah’s first school system, hospital, and school of nursing were created by Bishop Tuttle. Utah's first school for girls, Rowland Hall, began in the undercroft of St. Mark’s in 1870.
The Diocese of Utah now has 21 parishes serving over 5,000 Episcopalians in the state. Six of these parishes lie within Salt Lake County.
"In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God."
Isaiah 40:3
Defense and aerospace industries are, and have been, major contributors to the state's economy. The city's economy is primarily service-based, with health care and computer technologies growing in importance. The city and state have successfully sought out and attracted a number of technology companies. State and federal agencies are the largest employers with Salt Lake City as the center of state government and Utah federal land management. Employment in the business community is dominated by a growing multitude of small- and medium-size companies.
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Tourism is of major importance to the state’s economy. Utah has numerous outdoor recreational facilities situated in a variety of landscapes of spectacular natural beauty. The state boasts 5 national parks, 7 national monuments, 2 national recreation areas, 8 national forests, 4 national trails, 52 state parks, and 13 ski resorts. Our license plates boast “The Greatest Snow on Earth”.
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Salt Lake City is the state capital. It has a population of approximately 200,000. The city lies at the north end of the Salt Lake Valley, which contains numerous municipalities. The greater metropolitan area has a burgeoning population of 1,035,000. The city enjoys highly talented and dedicated artists of music, dance, theater, and painters. Like other large cities, Salt Lake at times suffers traffic congestion and poor air quality. Three trauma I hospitals serve the Salt Lake valley and the inter-mountain west. The area currently has a housing surplus. Interested home buyers have a large selection to choose from at competitive prices. The median price of an existing single family home in Salt Lake City is currently $280,000.
SUMMARY: QUALITIES WE SEEK IN OUR NEW DEAN
"Christian hope is to live with confidence in newness and fullness of life, and to await the coming of Christ in glory, and the completion of God's purpose for the world."
St. Mark’s is a parish with a dedicated congregation, a rich liturgical tradition, a fine choral program, and significant social outreach programs. Our mission is aided by a campus of first-class facilities adjoined to the new Episcopal Church Center of Utah. We seek in the person who will become our new dean the following qualities:
• A gifted preacher
• A caring pastor who treats others with kindness and respect
• A person able to discern individual talents and encourage their use
• A person able to delegate tasks and encourage others to assume responsibility
• An individual who has experience successfully attracting new members and young families
• A professional able to impart responsibility of stewardship on all congregants
• A strong spiritual and administrative leader in the diocese as well as community
• A successful manager of a large urban parish
• A person capable of operating within an approved budget
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Dean Maxwell (emeritus), Dean Lawson, Dean Potter (emeritus) |
Dean Lawson and Bishop Irish |
Much of what the human world is facing in this century is coming to grips with limited resources. Physical, monetary and certainly fragile natural resources dominate the list. The person we want will guide us to be the stewards God wants us to be. With God’s help we will be a beacon of Christianity to our community, our diocese and the world -- doing so with humility, grace, dignity, and good will.
| Dean R. M Kirby | c. 1872 - 1882 |   |
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| Dean N. F. Putnam | 1882 - 1891 | ||
| Dean A. Kinney Hall | 1894 - 1895 | ||
| Dean James B. Halsey | 1896 - 1900 | ||
| Dean James B. Eddie | 1900 - 1906 | ||
| Dean Benjamin Brewster | 1906 - 1909 | ||
| Dean Samuel R. Colladay | 1909 - 1916 | ||
| Dean William W. Fleetwood | 1917 - 1929 | ||
| Dean Henry A. Post | 1930 - 1934 | ||
| Dean Franklin H. Gibson | 1936 - 1943 | ||
| Dean Herald G. Gardner | 1943 - 1945 | ||
| Dean R. Dunham Taylor | 1945 - 1951 | ||
| Dean Richard W. Rowland | 1952 - 1961 | ||
| Dean Wesley Frensdorf | 1962 - 1972 | ||
| Dean Robert M. Anderson | 1972 - 1978 | ||
| Dean William F. Maxwell | 1978 - 1990 | ||
| Dean Jack C. Potter | 1990 - 2002 | ||
| Dean Frederick Q. Lawson | 2002 - 2010 |
