In 2012, the members of Old St. Paul’s brainstormed more than four hundred statements to describe who we are. Here is a summary of what people said:

“We are a warm and accepting community of friends, caring for each other as we walk together on the Christian journey. We are open-minded and open-hearted, following in the footsteps of Jesus by welcoming ALL people–no exceptions. We enjoy the energy and spirit that children and families bring to our community. We cherish children so that they learn they are cherished by God. Through worship, we open ourselves to God and each other, being uplifted by the beauty, traditions, and music in our services. We value curiosity, inquiry, and discernment, and admit that we do not have all the answers as we explore the big questions of life. Our members turn to each other for support as they work and serve in the name of Christ. We promote respect for the dignity of every human being through local and global social justice initiatives.”

For more information about St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Baltimore, please visit our official website here.

There are two primary authors and managers to Living Our Faith, but we also occasionally request and allow guest posts from selected speakers at our Old St. Paul’s Sunday Forums, members of Old St. Paul’s, and other clergy.

The Reverend Mary Luck Stanley, Co-Rector, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church

Mary grew up in Texas, attending St. John’s Episcopal School in Dallas. After graduating from Texas A&M University in 1987 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology, she moved to the San Francisco Bay Area where she lived for seventeen years, working as a Youth Minister, Director of Christian Education, and priest. Mary Luck and Mark Stanley were married in 1989. Sponsored for ordination by the Episcopal Diocese of California, Mary went to seminary at the Church Divinity School of the Pacific, graduating in 1997 with a Master of Divinity Degree. Mary was ordained priest in 1997 at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco, and then served as Assistant Rector at two Bay Area churches. Mary and Mark were blessed with the birth of their twins, Jack and Hannah, in 1999. The family moved to Baltimore in 2004 so Mark could begin working as the Rector of St. Paul’s Church. In 2006, Mary joined the staff at St. Paul’s and is currently the Co-Rector. With many years of experience developing ministries in the Episcopal Church, Mary says, “We cherish people so they will come to know they are cherished by God.”

The Reverend Mark Stanley, Co-Rector, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church

The Rev. Mark Stanley loves being a parish priest and he has been honored to be the Rector of Old St. Paul’s Church since 2004. Mark is a lifelong Episcopalian who was born in Evanston, Illinois. He graduated from The University of Texas in Austin as a Philosophy Major in 1986. He went to seminary at The Church Divinity School of the Pacific in Berkeley, California and was ordained transitional deacon in 1990 and then priest in 1991. Before coming to Baltimore, Mark served as the Rector of Christ Church in Sausalito, California. He enjoys serving on the Boards of St. Paul’s School and Saint Paul’s School for Girls in Brooklandville. He is married to The Rev. Mary Luck Stanley and they have two teenage children, Hannah and Jack. Mark enjoys running, the Ravens, watching movies and playing with his dog, Teddy.