Grosse Pointe Memorial Church is pleased to announce that Rev. Mark E. Diehl will be our Interim Pastor. Mark has been an ordained minister for over 39 years. A native Texan, Mark is an alumnus of Texas Tech University in Lubbock, TX (B.A.), Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, GA (M. Div.), and Loyola University in Baltimore, MD (M.S. in Pastoral Counseling). Mark is married to Mary Brown Diehl, a native of North Carolina. Mary is an elementary educator and has served as a Director of Christian Education as well as being an active volunteer in her church and community. They are the proud parents of three grown children – Bekah, Will and David – and grandparents to granddaughter Meier, 5.

Mark has been serving as an Interim Pastor since 2012, as head of staff for four different congregations. He has completed Interim Ministry, Stephen Ministry Leadership, and Bereavement Facilitator training. Mark brings special gifts in preaching and pastoral care to ministry, along with a great laugh!

In his Statement of Faith, Mark writes: “Community life as it is informed by the teachings of Jesus and the example of his life brings nurture and healing and great joy. The church at its best is a community of active reconciliation among its members and its neighbors and with God. The calling to the ministry of reconciliation embraces the reality of our limitations and our potential and a hope beyond ourselves. The church faithfully engages this ministry by its worship, by its nurture and teaching of the disciplines of faith, by its creative development of intellect and art, by its expressions of love and care and inclusion of all, and by its particular attention to the oppressed and needy.”

We look forward to joining together in this ministry of nurture, healing, and great joy, embracing both the realities of our limitations and our amazing potential. Mark will be preaching his first services at Grosse Pointe Memorial Church on Sunday, November 17th. There will also be a reception for the Diehls during middle hour – come welcome them to the community! Additional opportunities to meet Mark and Mary will be announced soon. During the next week, GPMC members will be receiving a paper mailing to introduce Mark, which will include a full listing of his previous ministry experience and his complete statement of faith. We are so excited to welcome the Diehls to Grosse Pointe Memorial Church.