The Rev. Dale Dusman, Pastor
As a teenager, Dale Dusman aspired to be an art teacher and a pastor. It was his good fortune to become both. After graduating from the Maryland Institute College of Art in 1970, he taught elementary art in Baltimore County for nine years. During that time he was called to serve as a deacon at St. Mark's Lutheran Church. His pursuit of a second career began in 1981 when he entered the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg. He took the majority of his classes through the Lutheran House of Studies in Washington, D.C. After graduating in 1985, he received a call as pastor of St. Mark's.

Among Pastor Dusman's responsibilities are leading worship, preaching, teaching, visitation, counseling, and shepherding the flock that is St. Mark's Lutheran Church.

In addition to his pastoral duties, Pastor Dusman is active in the community and participates in organizations such as the Greater Homewood Interfaith Alliance, the Station North Arts and Entertainment District, and the Charles Street Development Corporation. He has served as president of the Charles North Community Association since 1987.

Stephen Kohler, Administrator
Stephen, Administrator of St. Mark's since January 1988, is something of a jack-of-all-trades. While maintaining the Parish Office, scheduling events, printing service bulletins, and publishing the monthly newsletter, his other duties involve those of Sacristan, essentially caring for the vestments and appointments used in our liturgies. Often around the building most days of the week, Stephen's hours are from 8:00 a.m. until 3:30 p.m.. He may be reached via the church email address: saintmarks1900@aol.com

Penelope Paul, Parish Nurse
Penny is a registered nurse who has been the Parish Nurse at St. Mark's since January 2005. In that role she welcomes questions about health-related issues; meets with individuals to discuss health concerns; visits parishioners who are in their home and in hospitals, assisted living facilities, and nursing homes; writes a monthly article on health promotion for the church newsletter; and conducts education programs at the church on health topics. Penny can be contacted by calling the church (410) 752-5804 or by e-mail (saintmarks1900@aol.com).

James Harp, Cantor
Jim Harp has served St. Mark's as Cantor (organist and choir director) since 1987. He is well-known in the Baltimore area as a pianist, organist, singer, composer, lecturer, writer and conductor. At St. Mark's he also serves as Artistic Director for the St. Cecilia Society Concert Series.

Jim holds Bachelor's and Master's degrees from the Peabody Conservatory of Music. Until they closed, he was the Artistic Administrator of the Baltimore Opera Company beginning 1989 and the Chorus Master since 1993. Since 1983 he has served as organist for the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. He is on the faculty of the Johns Hopkins School of Continuing Education where he lectures on the repertory of the Baltimore Opera. An aficionado of gardening, theology, genealogy and all things Victorian, he lives in the Bolton Hill neighborhood of Baltimore with his gregarious pugs.

Jeffrey Spangler, Sexton
Jeffrey Spangler serves as Sexton for St. Mark's Church. The word sexton means "custodian of a church" and the first record of it being used in this sense is dated 1582. Interestingly, the etymology of the word is the same as that of the word sacristan. Around the year 1303, the word was Sekesteyn, "a person in charge of the sacred objects of a church." This came from Old French Segrestien, which in turn comes from the Middle Latin Sacristanus.

The Deacons

St. Mark's is blessed to have several deacons called to volunteer their service and ministry. Members of The Order of St. Stephen, Deacon (OSSD) assist the pastor and congregation council in areas of leadership and service within the church and community.

Ernest F. Lehr, Jr.
Deacon Lehr, "Ernie," has been a member of the congregation since his baptism and has served as a deacon at St. Mark's for some 30 years. In his role as deacon, Ernie has had many interesting and fulfilling service experiences, including filling in for two years as interim pastor to a neighboring congregation when the pastor there became terminally ill. Ernie has also served multiple terms as Archdeacon in the Delaware-Maryland Synod.

Connie Lisch
Connie Lisch first came to St. Mark's in 1988, where she met and married her husband. Together they are involved in many local community projects and are busy as parents. Deacon Lisch was set apart at St. Mark's in May 1995 and has served the church in a variety of capacities. She regularly assists on the altar as well offers the Deacon's Mass at Keswick Multi-Care Center.