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3150 Vogel Avenue + Abilene, TX 79603 + 325.677.1471 + info@stmarksabilene.org Proudly serving Abilene and Taylor County in the Episcopal Tradition since 1960
Leadership
Our Clergy
rector@stmarksabilene.org The Rev. Father Jim Smart serves as Rector and Local Priest for St. Mark's parish. In 2002, Jim, who was a lay person of St. Mark's at the time, began training in a program in the Diocese of Texas called Congregation Formation. This program was designed for parishes that have no ministers and allows the congregation/formation committee to seek out one in the congregation who would serve as a pastor/priest. Jim accepted this calling and began study through the Diocese's Congregation Formation study program (non-seminary structure). During this time, Father Jim was mentored by Father Scott Meyer, rector of the Church of the Heavenly Rest, which is the founding parish of St. Mark's. Father Scott is now Bishop Scott Mayer and serves as Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Northwest Texas.
Father Jim was ordained to the Order of Sacred Priesthood on November 20, 2004, at the hands of The Rt. Rev. Wallis Ohl, Bishop of Northwest Texas.
Jim has been involved in the life of St. Mark's Parish for the last 16 years and has been active in every capacity of lay ministry. His roles in the parish include Lay Reader, Lector, Lay Eucharistic Minister, Mentor for Education for Ministry, Yard Angel, and Lay Preacher. He has also been a member of the St. Mark's softball team. On the diocesan level, Jim has served on the Committee on Missions.
Secularly, Jim is a local attorney, in which he shares a practice with his wife, Pat.
deacon@stmarksabilene.org On Saturday, October 27, 2007, Peggy Valentine became The Rev. Mrs. Peggy Valentine, when she was ordained to the Order of Deacons in the Diocese of Northwest Texas by Bishop Wallis Ohl. The ordination took place at a ceremony in San Angelo at Emmanuel Episcopal Church, who hosted the 49th annual Diocesan Convention.
Peggy studied for the deaconate through the Deacon Formation program offered in the Diocese. Peggy is now a non-stipend (non-paid) Deacon in the Diocese serving at St. Mark's.
The ministry of a deacon is to represent Christ and his Church, particularly as a servant of those in need; and to assist bishops and priests in the proclamation of the Gospel and the administration of the sacraments. (Book of Common Prayer, Pg. 856)
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