About Pastor Mark

Rev. Mark Reynolds is a native of Lakeland, Florida. A graduate of the Lois Cowles Harrison Center for the Visual and Performing Arts (1992), he went on to earn 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), where he also pursued doctoral studies in Systematic Theology.

Since 1994, Pastor Mark has served in a variety of ministry settings. He was ordained as an Elder in Full Connection in the United Methodist Church in June 2010. In addition to his pastoral ministry, he is also a teacher and writer. For nine years, he served as an adjunct professor in the Religion and Philosophy Department at Florida Southern College, and he currently teaches Ethics in the License to Preach School for the Florida Annual Conference. He also serves on the District Committee in the East Central District.

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 who have been wounded or excluded by the institutional church.

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

He currently serves as the Senior Pastor of 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 theology and social commentary.

Some of Pastor Mark’s Favorite Books Include:

• 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

• What Is the Bible? – Rob Bell

• Leadership on the Line – Heifetz and Linsky

You can access sermons and teachings via YouTube and iTunes.

Order Pastor Mark’s booklet,  New Life in Christ: Understanding Your Decision to Follow Jesus and Finding Your Next Steps.