Elected and Appointed Positions
St. Mark’s has several elected and appointed positions that oversee and support the various ministries of St. Mark’s.
St. Mark’s has several elected and appointed positions that oversee and support the various ministries of St. Mark’s. Read on to learn more about each of these roles and the ministries they serve.
All elected and appointed positions are open to confirmed members, elected by the congregation.
Contact the church office (office@smlutheran.org) to with any questions regarding elected and appointed positions.
Church Council | Elected
Provides general oversight of the life and activities of the congregation. Leads the congregation in long range planning, setting goals and priorities, and evaluating St. Mark’s activities in light of its mission and goals.
Endowment Fund Committee | Elected
Meets quarterly to manage St. Mark’s endowment fund, administer annual Small Grants Program, and plan educational events about the ways to leave a legacy at St. Mark’s.
Memorial Committee | Elected
Maintains the church memorial gift fund policy and selects appropriate memorials from church needs. Maintains a current record of all memorial gifts. Keeps track of all memorial gifts given to St. Mark’s.
Nominating Committee | Elected
Identifies and nominates candidates for congregationally elected positions.
Offering Counters | Appointed
Meets weekly to count all offerings and other income.
Personnel Committee | Elected
Works with staff administrators and the Church Council to develop and implement personnel policies for St. Mark’s. Serves as an advisory board to these leaders in personnel matters that need attention.
Preschool Board | Elected
Creates policies for and oversees the health of St. Mark’s Preschool.
Scholarship Committee | Elected
Prepares forms for, reviews submitted applications from and distributes scholarships to higher education students.
Stewardship Committee | Elected
Promotes opportunities for the people of St. Mark’s to give time, talents and abilities to live into our mission, locally, nationally, and globally. Invites the people of St. Mark’s to give financially to fund our ministry operations, facilities maintenance, and debt reduction. Provides stewardship education for people of all ages.
Worship Volunteers
From ushering, to serving communion, to reading the scriptures, worship volunteers make our services possible.
There are a variety of ways to be involved in Sunday morning worship in addition to music groups.
Training is available and you will be able to sign up to serve in areas you are comfortable in, on dates that work for you.
Greeters
Greeters meet worshipers as they enter the church. Warmly greet, welcome, acknowledge, and provide help and information as needed.
Ushers
Ushers meet worshipers as they enter the sanctuary. Distribute worship bulletins and oversee congregational physical well-being during worship. Guide worshipers to open seats, direct congregation during communion, gather prayer request cards and offering and count attendance.
Assisting Ministers
Assisting Ministers assist the pastors by leading prayers and other pieces of spoken liturgy during Sunday worship services. They also help with communion as needed.
Lectors
Read the lessons during Sunday morning worship. The lessons are sent to the readers in the week before the service so you can familiarize yourself with the text.
Communion Servers
Assist pastors in distribution of wine, juice and bread during the Lord’s Supper.
Altar Guild
Sign up for a variety of responsibilities, according to personal schedules.
Prepare Sunday Communion (1st shift 8:05–9:45am, 2nd shift 10:45–12:15pm). A shared responsibility once or twice a month.
Stock wafers, wine, grape juice, and candles as necessary; approximately four times per year.
Refill/replace candles and candle oil, can be a shared responsibility; weekly.
Clean and press communion linens, a shared responsibility; weekly.
Bread Baking Team
Bread Bakers bake 12 loaves of communion bread for Sunday service.
The bakers use a specific quick bread recipe.
Bread MUST BE delivered prior to communion set up. Delivery on Friday when the church is open is ideal, but bread can be brought to church prior to 8am on Sunday morning, if needed.
Interested in being a worship volunteer?
Sign up using the form below!
St. Mark’s Alliances
St. Mark’s alliances bring people together to further their common interests and to create bonds between them, as we seek to serve our world in Christ.
You are invited to join one or more of our St. Mark's Alliances
St. Mark’s alliances bring people together to further their common interests and to create bonds between them, as we seek to serve our world in Christ. We have formed ourselves into the following seven alliances. These alliances also foster several partnership ministries.
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The Anti-Racism Alliance brings together people who are committed to study, prayer and action as we become an anti-racist community of faith. We strive to grow in faith, both by learning to recognize our systemic and structural privilege and by committing to personal engagement.
Ministry Opportunities
Organizes educational events throughout the year
Organizes educational events, worship materials, and media for Black History Month
Organizes educational events, worship materials, and media for Juneteenth
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The Creation Care Alliance brings together people who affirm the sacredness of all that God has made and the calling we have to be faithful stewards who live in harmony with creation. In a time of climate crisis, we also seek to grow in attending to climate justice and resilience for all people.
Ministry Opportunities
Organizes educational opportunities, hikes and outdoor activities throughout the year
Ministry Teams
The Shalom Project
Greening Congregation
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The Gender Sexuality Alliance brings together people who are committed to the full welcome, inclusion, and celebration of LGBTQIA+ people in all aspects of congregational life and in the community. We seek to live out our calling as a Reconciling in Christ congregation.
Ministry Opportunities
Organizes educational events throughout the year
Participates in the Tacoma Pride Festival
Ministry Teams
Essentials for Homeless Youth
Oasis Youth Center
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The Inter-Faith Alliance brings together people who are committed to building relationships of trust, mutual respect, and collaboration with people of diverse faith communities. Our partners in this alliance include Associated Ministries, Temple Beth El, Bethany Presbyterian Church, and the Islamic Center of Tacoma.
Ministry Opportunities
Cooperatively organizes a monthly Women’s Interfaith Tea with other faith communities in the Tacoma area
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The Housing Alliance brings together people who seek to address homelessness both in our own community and abroad.
Ministry Opportunities
Organizes and facilitates Tiny House builds in support of the Low-Income Housing Institue
Organizes and facilitates an annual trip to Mexico as a part of a long-term ministry partnership with Lutheran Border Concerns
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The Hunger Alliance brings together people who seek adequate food and nutrition for all, both in our own community and abroad.
Ministry Teams
Peace Community Center
Nativity House
DeLong Backpack Program
Holiday Giving Tree
Chase the Chill
Hunger Walk & Run
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The Global Refugee Alliance brings together people who are committed to a ministry of global embrace, and to the resettlement of refugees in our own community.
Ministry Teams and Opportunities
Cooperatively organizes the sponsorship of refugees in our area in partnership with Global Refuge
Organizes and produces quilts and care kits in support of Lutheran World Relief
Organizes advocacy and education efforts for justice in Palestine and Israel through Sumud St. Mark’s, a branch of ELCA Sumud
Interested in joining one of our St. Mark’s Alliances?
Sign up using the form below!
Congregational Care
St. Mark’s Congregational Care ministries are focused on enhancing the life and well-being of those in and around our community through support groups, visitations, and wellness activities.
St. Mark’s is proud to offer several congregational care ministries. Click on the drop-down menu below to learn more about the various congregational care ministries we have to offer.
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Care ministers supplement the pastoral staff by providing one-on-one care to people experiencing life transitions and challenges (for example: impending death, recovery from illness, loss of a job or a relationship, dealing with a chronic illness).
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Caregiver Support Group
Twice a month, caregivers gather to support one another, pray, and receive strength for the challenges of caring for a loved one.
Grief Support Group
This group meets once a month and is open to all who are experiencing a time of grief and loss.
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Sunday Morning Hospitality
Volunteers provide refreshments each week for Sunday services. Typically, multiple volunteers will cover refreshments for a single Sunday, with each contributing as they are able.
Memorial Service Hospitality
A team of volunteers also works alongside our Hospitality Coordinator to provide and serve food and drinks, and assist with set up and clean up for memorial services/receptions.
Interested in joining one or more of our congregational care ministries?
Fill out the form below!
Stewardship
Our Stewardship ministries help us to be good stewards of the gifts we have received, empowering us as we reach out in words and deeds of love.
Stewardship Committee
The purpose of the Stewardship Committee is to encourage one another to share generously our God-given gifts of time, talents, and resources in love and gratitude. We are called as a community to worship, learn, serve, and reach out in words and deeds of love because we are stewards of the blessings we have received. The Stewardship Committee provides leadership in three areas of responsibility:
1) Promoting opportunities for the people of St. Mark’s to give time, talents and abilities to allow us to live in our mission, locally, nationally, and globally.
2) Inviting the people of St. Mark’s to give financially to fund our ministry operations, facilities maintenance, and debt reduction.
3) Providing stewardship education for people of all ages.
Finance Committee
The Finance Committee oversees the management of the church’s finances including implementing sound fiscal management procedures and audits. They are responsible for the accurate record keeping of contributions of members, including offerings and financial gifts, as well as financial reporting to both the congregation and Church Council.
In addition to these responsibilities, the Finance Committee also prepares the preliminary budget for Church Council and congregational approval, and monitors the invested assets of the congregation and building mortgage.
Property Oversight Committee
The Property Oversight Committee provides leadership in the oversight of Church facilities and grounds. As a congregation, we are committed to growing and sustaining a long-term maintenance/property improvement plan and the funds to support it. The Property Oversight Committee meets as needed to help set priorities for these capital improvements. This ministry will help guide the process to keep our facilities and grounds safe, accessible, and comfortable.
Property Team
The Property Team is a group of volunteers that meets on a weekly basis to help maintain and improve the building and grounds. The team works on a variety of tasks both in and around the building and is a great fellowship and service opportunity.
Technology Team
The Technology Team at St. Mark’s is a volunteer group of technology professionals and enthusiasts who partner with the staff and ministry teams to further ministry goals through technology, as well as providing technical assistance to staff and ministry teams as needed.
Holy Weeders
This team of volunteer gardeners works together to maintain the garden areas around St. Mark’s. Members are welcome to work in specified areas on their own schedule or attend a scheduled work party. Tools are available as needed!
Interested in being a part of our stewardship ministries?
Fill out the form below!