Our Leadership
The Rev. Mary Glover, Priest-In-Charge
The Rev. Mary Glover serves as the Priest-In-Charge of St. Mark’s. Glover previously was Associate Rector of the Episcopal Church of the Heavenly Rest and chaplain at St. John’s Episcopal Elementary School. She has also served as Associate Rector of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Amarillo and Rector of Trinity Episcopal Church in Independence, Missouri.
Mother Mary is an Abilene native, graduated from Cooper High School, earned a bachelor’s degree from McMurry University in 1978, a juris doctor degree from St. Mary’s University School of Law in San Antonio in 1988 and a Master of Divinity degree from the Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest in Austin in 2001.
Prior to entering seminary, Glover practiced law in Abilene, first with Bradbury, Adkins & Nix Law Firm and then as regional attorney for children’s and adult protective services with the Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services.
Mother Mary is an Abilene native, graduated from Cooper High School, earned a bachelor’s degree from McMurry University in 1978, a juris doctor degree from St. Mary’s University School of Law in San Antonio in 1988 and a Master of Divinity degree from the Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest in Austin in 2001.
Prior to entering seminary, Glover practiced law in Abilene, first with Bradbury, Adkins & Nix Law Firm and then as regional attorney for children’s and adult protective services with the Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services.
The Rev. Jim Smart, Assistant
The Rev. Father Jim Smart serves as Assistant 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.
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.
The Rev. Dn. Peggy Valentine, Deacon
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)
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)
