Saint Mark's Episcopal Cathedral strives to be...
- a house of prayer for all people, where we worship God and proclaim the reconciling Gospel of Jesus Christ
- a loving, welcoming, inclusive community that nurtures faith, encourages service, and integrates social and environmental justice into our lives;
- a sacred gathering place for the Diocese of Olympia and the broader community in times of crisis, sorrow, and celebration.
Saint Mark's Cathedral is part of the Episcopal Church, and as a cathedral, serves as the seat of the Bishop of the Diocese of Olympia.
The Episcopal Church
The Episcopal Church is part of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and traces its heritage to the beginning of Christianity. Some of the distinguishing features of this church are:
- Men, women, and nonbinary people, as well as LGBTQ people, participate fully in the ministry and governance of the church, and all are eligible to serve as ordained clergy (deacons, priests, and bishops), and at all levels of church leadership.
- The "three-legged stool" of Holy Scripture, tradition, and reason are central to the expression of our faith. The Bible is basic to what we believe and how we believe it.
- We worship in the forms of ancient tradition, as preserved in The Book of Common Prayer, and consult our spiritual ancestors as we find our own way forward.
- We think about what we believe, drawing from the broad range of human understanding and personal experience.
- Holy Communion forms the center and high point of our worship.
What we do
- We gather in prayer to experience God and to seek spiritual renewal and direction.
- We offer diverse worship services that engage people through liturgy, spoken word, and music.
- We create faith formation opportunities that invite people to grow, wherever they are on their journey of faith.
- We build a vibrant community life by sharing our stories and nurturing our relationships.
- We practice Christ’s message of justice in all of our ministries through service to others.
Spiritual practices include
- daily prayer
- weekly worship
- regular study
- serving others
- taking Sabbath time for renewal
- making pilgrimage
- practicing hospitality to all
- generous, joyful giving from what we have been given.
Guiding principles
WELCOME
We invite people of all faiths and cultures to share this house of prayer.
INSPIRE
We are inspired by the light of Christ and are fed by the deep springs of the Spirit.
SERVE
We serve the poor and those in need, we engage in the work of justice at home and abroad, and we seek to be good stewards of the earth.
TRANSFORM
We seek to be transformed by love and to share this love generously with others.
Where we’re headed
In January 2020, Saint Mark's adopted the 2020 Strategic Plan prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. In April 2023, the Vestry recommended convening a Committee to develop a new Strategic Plan as Saint Mark’s envisions ways of being Church in a post-pandemic world. The Committee launched in July 2023 and will be engaging the parish and Cathedral community for input including exploring how the current mutual ministry goals orient our mission and purpose. Questions? Email strategicplanning@saintmarks.org.