About Pastor Mark

Hello Everyone!

As a pastor, author, and teacher, I strive to help thoughtful Christians move beyond literalism, certainty, and division toward a deeper faith rooted in the mystery of God’s grace, as revealed in the way of Jesus. Below is some biographical information that may be helpful.

Biographical Information

Pastor Mark is a Lakeland, Florida, native. A 1992 graduate of the Lois Cowles Harrison Center for the Visual and Performing Arts, he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Religion and Sociology from Florida Southern College (1996), a Master of Divinity from Candler School of Theology at Emory University (1999), and a Master of Arts in Religion from Vanderbilt University (2007) while pursuing doctoral studies in Systematic Theology.

Since 1994, he has served in a variety of ministry settings. He was ordained an Elder in Full Connection in the United Methodist Church in June 2010. In addition to his pastoral ministry, he is a teacher and writer. For nine years, he served as an adjunct professor in the Religion and Philosophy Department at Florida Southern College. He also serves on the Board of Ordained Ministry for the Florida Conference and other denominational teams.

Mark is passionate about critiquing religious fundamentalism and offering fresh, grace-filled interpretations of Christianity—ones that are intellectually honest in a postmodern context and healing for those wounded or excluded by the institutional church.

Outside the pulpit, Mark is an avid surfer who loves leading surfing mission trips to Central America.

He currently serves as the Senior Pastor at First United Methodist Church in Cocoa Beach, Florida, where he lives with his wife, Emma, and their four children. On his days off, you’ll likely find him surfing, reading, or writing on theology and social commentary. He is the author of What Christians Do: Living Like Jesus in a Divided World (October 2026).

Some of Pastor Mark’s Favorite Books:

• New Seeds of Contemplation – Thomas Merton

• The Inner Voice of Love & Can You Drink the Cup? – Henri Nouwen

• Everything Belongs – Richard Rohr

• The Spirituality of Imperfection – Kurtz & Ketcham

• The Big Book of Christian Mysticism – Carl McColman

• To Love as God Loves – Roberta Bondi

• Free of Charge & Exclusion and Embrace – Miroslav Volf

• The Crucified God – Jürgen Moltmann

• When Love Meets Fear & How to Be an Adult – David Richo

• Necessary Endings – Henry Cloud

• The Idolatry of God – Peter Rollins
  

• Leadership on the Line – Heifetz and Linsky

• What Is the Bible – Rob Bell
  

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