Saint Mark’s Cathedral is committed to rooting out racism which finds expression within ourselves, our community, and the church at large. We offer opportunities for our community to address racism and racial injustice through reflection, education, advocacy, and relationship-building.

Ministries

Sacred Ground

Sacred Ground is a film-and-readings based dialogue series on race, grounded in the Episcopal faith. While on hiatus in the 2026-2027 program year, Sacred Ground will support and offer other opportunities to engage anti-racism.

Hannah Hochkeppel (sacredground@saintmarks.org)

On hiatus in 2026-2027

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Restorative Justice Council

The work of the Restorative Justice Council arises from prayerful reflection on Saint Mark's Statement of Lament and Commitment to Action. The Council supports the Cathedral’s array of justice ministries and 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.

Christopher Breunig (restorativejustice@saintmarks.org)

Typically 3-4 p.m., every other 2nd Sunday of the month, on Zoom

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Projects

Saint Mark's Affiliated Community-Based Organization

Saint Mark’s is currently developing a Community-Based Organization (CBO) to operate resource spaces in the new affordable housing development. Eventually the CBO will guide our full portfolio of housing and hunger relief ministries, from direct services to partnerships to education and advocacy efforts. This 501c3 non-profit will have a majority-Black board, backing up our words with action, as the cathedral seeks to repent and repair the harm and injustice of housing disparities in the North Capitol Hill area.

Visual Storytelling Project

As a part of the Affordable Housing Development Project, the Visual Storytelling Project is a museum-caliber set of eight panels that tell the story of housing discrimination and Black resilience in the neighborhoods in and around Capitol Hill. This display educates the community on the historic practices that continue to have a measurable impact on the neighborhood, such as restrictive covenants and racial redlining. Using archival materials, images, maps, graphics, and narrative, the exhibit tells a story of systemic injustices and the enduring strength and creativity of Seattle’s Black community. Additionally, the storyboard is designed to empower viewers to take measurable action for repentance and repair.

Projecting Justice

photo by Jack Storms

In recent years, Saint Mark's has collaborated with the ACLU of Washington State to use the unique visibility and position of the cathedral building as a beacon on the hill to make a powerful public statement about violence and justice in our city and our region. For two weeks, we projected names of people in Western Washington killed by the police, with the simple message that each one "should still be alive today."

Cathedral Resources

Cathedral Conversations about Race
Book Study of God is a Black Woman by Dr. Christena Cleveland: Part 1 & Part 2
Dr. Christena Cleveland on Divine Feminine & The Black Madonna
Are We There Yet? Racial Healing and Reconciliation in Our Time with the Rev. Canon Stephanie Spellers
The Episcopal Church’s Racial Reconciliation Ministry