The Rev. Joan Conley, Rector

St. Mark’s has been blessed to have Joan Conley as Rector since October, 2019. Joan values an approach to parish ministry as a pastoral leader deeply grounded in prayer. She engages life and ministry with warmth, humor, flexibility, and confidence while motivating and inspiring her parishioners through building relationship and respectful engagement.

As the youngest of seven girls, Joan grew up in a close, supportive Irish Catholic family, deeply rooted in prayer, service, and community. Upon graduation from the University of Notre Dame, Joan served as a community organizer in Mobile, AL, through the Jesuit Volunteer Corps. She came to ordained ministry after many years as a mother, active parishioner, parish administrator, and corporate office manager. Joan received her Master of Divinity from Drew Theological School with additional graduate work at The General Theological Seminary in NYC.

Prior to coming to St. Mark’s, Joan served as Clergy Associate at St. Elizabeth’s Church in Ridgewood, NJ for nine years. She greatly values her close relationships with her daughter Elena and her son Hector-Enrique and their partners, and their extended family.

Joan greatly appreciates the rich diversity of St. Mark’s and the surrounding community and values her relationships with interfaith colleagues and their work together in the community. When asked what she loves about St. Mark’s, Joan replied: “The FUN and FAITHFUL people of St. Mark’s. This is a very creative, lively, talented, thoughtful, and deeply committed and faith-full congregation. St. Mark’s: ‘Celebrating God’s Inclusive Love’, indeed!”

Recent sermons by the Rev. Joan Conley: