"Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?"

—The Baptismal Covenant, The Book of Common Prayer

Saint Mark's Justice Ministries Mission: To engage the St. Mark’s community in justice issues, to acknowledge and address our own complicity in injustice, to serve and support those who are in need, to advocate for peace and economic justice, to pursue sustainability and ecological justice, to partner with other congregations and organizations serving and providing opportunities to those in need, and to celebrate the opportunity to serve.

As part of our commitment to justice, Saint Mark's recently adopted a Statement of Commitment and Action, expressing our responsibility to respect the dignity of every human being, strive for justice and peace among all people, and seek and serve Christ in all persons. The statement was born out of concerns about the increase in statements and actions in our nation that target particular groups of people based on their skin color, their religious affiliation, their gender or orientation, their disabilities, or their country of birth. These are artificial divisions that we vehemently denounce as discriminatory and disrespectful. We believe our nation can do better, and we pledge to work toward that better vision. We commit to being a network of activists, in God’s name, joining others who similarly pledge to actively pursue justice. 

Justice Work as Spiritual Practice

At the recent retreat exploring the future of justice ministries at Saint Mark's, Canon Jennifer King Daugherty opened the event with a reflection titled Justice Work as Spiritual Practice: Remarks on the Connection between Spiritual Life, Restorative Justice, and Hope. She poses the question, “What motivates us toward justice work?” and emphasizes both the sacred, spiritual nature of this work, as well as the need to engage with the here and now. Read her complete remarks here.

Click the cover image to download a pdf of the complete Fall 2023 Ministry Directory.

Learn more about other opportunities at the cathedral by visiting the Get Involved! page.


Creation Care

 

The Creation Care Ministry at Saint Mark’s Cathedral strives to faithfully address the crisis of climate change. As stewards of the life-giving goodness of God’s creation, we will work with the Saint Mark’s and broader world communities to educate ourselves and take action together to preserve our shared planet and sustain life for the generations to come. We recognize our commitment as a unique opportunity and responsibility in our time to address the many social justice issues tied to the climate crisis. And through engaging in collective action that makes an effective impact, we will grow into the joy of transcending our fears and sense of powerlessness around the issue of climate change. Saint Mark’s is a member of Earth Ministry and Earth Day NW 2020Read more on the Creation Care Ministry page. If you are interested in being a part of this work at Saint Mark’s, please contact Kathy Minsch or Marjorie Ringness.

Kathy Minsch & Marjorie Ringness, creationcare@saintmarks.org


Habitat for Humanity

Saint Mark’s Volunteers have been working with the local Seattle/King County affiliate of Habitat for Humanity and participating in national and international building projects for over 25 years. Recently, the Saint Mark’s Habitat crew has also been assisting in projects on the cathedral grounds. 

Jacquelyn Miller, jcmiller31@gmail.com
Gordon Miller, glmiller@seattleu.edu

Meal Sharing Ministry

The congregation of Saint Mark’s has a long history of engaging with our unsheltered neighbors and addressing the issue of homeless through education, advocacy, and service. We seek to support programs, such as the Threshold Fund move-in assistance program, that have a direct impact on the lives of homeless adults, children and families. We host Tent City 3 on the cathedral property when possible. While Tent City 3 is in residence, cathedral volunteers prepare, serve, and share a meal with the residents once a week.

Saint Brigid’s Banquet is committed to providing hot, nutritious meals and hospitality to those in Seattle who are homeless/hungry. Our volunteers cook and serve meals monthly for men aged 50+ who are currently living at St. Martin de Porres shelter, and bi-monthly for teens and young adults served by Teen Feed in the U District. Please consider joining this heart-warming and fun ministry! We welcome all adult volunteers. For times and locations, please contact:

Chris Rigos, crigos33@gmail.com


Hunger Offering

On the second Sunday of every month, the cathedral collects a special offering to support several food programs in the Seattle area. This ministry is currently supporting the following hunger programs: Ballard Food Bank, Lifelong AIDS Alliance, Pike Market Food Bank, Immanuel Community Services, Food Bank @ St. Mary’s, and St. Brigid’s Banquet.

Vicky Greenbaum, vgreenbaum1@gmail.com


Restorative Justice & Systematic Change Council

The work of the Restorative Justice & Systemic Change Council is formed out of a prayerful reflection of Saint Mark’s Statement of Lament and Commitment to Action. The Council supports specific justice ministry programs but also seeks to nurture a culture in the Parish where all are encouraged and equipped to live out the call to do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with God in their specific lives. Guided by a commitment to be in relationship with rather than simply supply needs for we seek to heal what is broken, restore what is lost, and foster the possibility of transformation for those we serve and ourselves as well.

Scott Hulet, Senior Warden, rshjourney2@gmail.com


Lowell Elementary Volunteers

Saint Mark’s has a longstanding partnership with Lowell Elementary School, the nearest public school to the cathedral. Lowell serves Seattle families who are unhoused and has a significant number of medically fragile students. Volunteers serve in a variety of ways depending on the season and stated needs of the school, including tutoring, gardening projects, and after school cooking classes, and the congregation as a whole has generously responded to requests for donations of needed supplies.

Cherie Bradshaw, bradshawcherie@msn.com


The Threshold Fund

The Saint Mark’s Cathedral Threshold Fund began as an initiative of Saint Mark’s Homeless Advocacy Ministry. It helps individuals and families experiencing homelessness by providing financial assistance with rental deposits and move-in costs, lowering the financial barrier to safe, permanent housing. Qualified recipients receive first and last month’s rent and security deposit— half as an outright gift, half as a loan to be repaid when they are able. Saint Mark’s partners with Catholic Community Services (CCS) to administer the program, which includes case management to ensure those in need obtain the support services from which they will benefit.

The Very Rev. Steven L. Thomason, sthomason@saintmarks.org



PARTNER & AFFILIATE ORGANIZATIONS

Episcopal Relief & Development

ERD is our denomination’s organization that responds to human suffering around the world. We provide emergency assistance after disasters, rebuild communities, and help children and families climb out of poverty. More information can be found at episcopalrelief.org.


Earth Ministry/Washington Interfaith Power & Light

For 30 years, Earth Ministry/WAIPL has been a national leader in engaging the faith community in environmental stewardship and advocacy. The organization was founded in the 1980s at Saint Mark’s Cathedral. Earth Ministry/WAIPL transforms faith into action for the well-being of communities and the environment, organizing people of faith to advocate for strong environmental policies and provide strategic guidance to religious communities working toward environmental justice: earthministry.org


Faith Action Network

Saint Mark’s Cathedral is a FAN advocating faith community. FAN is a statewide interfaith advocacy organization through which thousands of people and over 100 faith communities across Washington State partner for the common good, believing that justice work is part of our religious calling. FAN communicates with elected officials about critical social issues and advocates for a more just and sustainable world.

Tom Sunderland, tsunderland@mail.com


Greenbelt Group

The Greenbelt slope to the south and west of the cathedral is an asset to the entire community that has been entrusted to the cathedral. Friends of Saint Mark’s Greenbelt is a unit of the Green Seattle Partnership, which helps maintain and restore the land by removing invasive plants, maintaining the trails and replanting with native vegetation. For information about work parties contact:

Kathy Minsch, kminsch@gmail.com


 

Mission to Seafarers

The Mission to Seafarers locally serves cargo and cruise ship sailors in the Port of Seattle. During cruise ship season, trained volunteers shuttle crew from Pier 91 to and from downtown Seattle so that they can shop for essentials and enjoy being off the ship for a short time. Throughout the year, trained Seafarer chaplains visit cargo ships to provide companionship and spiritual support as well as practical help. Occasionally, Seafarer Missioners conduct church services aboard ship, but always serve as chaplains to sailors of all faiths.

In December of 2022, Catholic news network EWTN featured Seattle Seafarers Center in an episode segment. Watch here

The Rev. Earl Grout, egrout@saintmarks.org

Northwest Community Bail Fund

The current system of bail is among the most inequitable and unjust aspects of our justice system. Being unable to post bail prior to trial can leave people with a tough choice—either plead guilty to a crime that they may not have committed, or stay in jail for weeks or months. Either choice can impact their job, their shelter/housing and even custody of children. The Northwest Community Bail Fund began as a ministry of Saint Mark’s Cathedral, but is now an independent 501(c)3, part of the National Bail Fund Network. It provides cash bail for people who are charged with low-level crimes in King and Snohomish Counties and who are unable to pay due to poverty. This allows them to get out of jail during their trial period and defend themselves from a position of freedom. NCBF also collaborates with the Pre-Trial Justice Institute, the ACLU, and stakeholders in Washington State on bail reform to reduce/eliminate the use of bail.