Pastor Mark's Bio

It was in 1988 that I came to realize that I could no longer live my life in the closet and came out to my wife and family. Shortly thereafter we were divorced and I was told by the minister of the church I attended during this difficult time in my life to never step back into the church again. Being denied a place to worship almost destroyed me. As I searched for churches where I could worship as an openly gay man I found one that would allow me to join, but made it very clear that I would never serve in any area of leadership or ministry. Having felt a call to ministry from a very early age I knew I had to find another community of faith that would welcome me just as I am.

It was September of 1989 that I first walked into the doors of Metropolitan Community Church of Detroit and from the moment I walked in I knew that this would become my spiritual home. I became a member of MCC Detroit one month later. Prior to finding MCC Detroit I had visited and belonged to many different Protestant churches such as Baptist, Lutheran and Presbyterian. While each of those churches influenced me and helped build my faith in God, they were not willing to fully accept me as an openly gay man. MCC Detroit not only accepted me but embraced me with love.

Over the last fifteen years I have served in many roles at MCC Detroit and it was while serving as a Deacon in training that I finally acknowledged God's calling on my life to become a Pastor. Over the years I not only studied at Saint Cyril and Methodius seminary but I also took the many clergy courses offered by our denomination, the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches (UFMCC). During this time of study and preparation for ordination I served MCC Detroit as the Interim Pastoral Leader. In July of 1997 I completed all my training and education and was accepted by UFMCC's Board of Ordination to become a fully licensed and ordained minister. Once my ordination was approved the congregation of MCC Detroit voted unanimously to call me as their Pastor.

I am currently single.