Ordained in 1985, Pastor Brocker has served as the lead pastor of St. Andrew since September 2005. Prior to coming to St. Andrew he served for five years as lead pastor at Trinity Lutheran in Tacoma, WA. He has also served congregations in Decatur, IL, Franklin Grove, IL, and McMinnville, OR. His internship was in Juneau, Alaska.

In addition to his pastoral responsibilities, Mark is a lecturer in theology and ethics for Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in Berkeley and teaches ethics for the Northwest House of Theological Studies in Salem, OR. Mark is chair of the Environmental Ministries Committee of Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon. He served as volume editor for Conspiracy and Imprisonment 1940-1945, volume 16 of Dietrich Bonhoeffer Works.

Mark received his B. A. in Philosophy from Pacific Lutheran University, his M. Div. from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, and his Ph. D. in theology and ethics from the University of Chicago Divinity School.

In Ephesians 4:29 Paul writes: "Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear." As a pastor much of my work involves using words in preaching, teaching, and one-to-one conversations. I have appreciated hearing words that give grace. My hope is that my words will give grace to those who hear them. This, of course, does not always happen perfectly; but when gracious words are spoken and heard, what a blessing it is!

God also wants our deeds to convey grace. In Matthew 25:40 Jesus says: "Inasmuch as you have done to the least of these, you have done it unto me." The people of St. Andrew respond eagerly to opportunities to embody God's grace in concrete acts of love toward those in need. Every time we minister to someone in need it is as if we are ministering to Jesus himself.

At St. Andrew we are also growing in our awareness of what it means to graciously care for the creation. The grace of God extends to the whole creation. As the people of God, we are called to embody God's gracious love in all our relationships—to our fellow human beings and to all God's creatures.