Mark teaches ministry at Vanderbilt Divinity School and heads the Disciples Divinity House there. Before that he pastored for 15 years at First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of Chicago Heights, a small congregation on the south side of Chicago—a tough but rewarding place to be church.

He is married to the beautiful and brilliant Bonni and raised three sons. He says he plays several instruments badly, but loves old-timey style banjo.