WHO ARE WE?
An Historic Community, Crafting A New Identity.
Founded in 1860, Memorial Church has a long history as a sanctuary for faithful believers and a center of community for the neighborhood.
Memorial Episcopal Church is an urban church in the city of Baltimore and a parish in the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland. We are a Jesus-Centered, Justice-Focused community. We seek to be a model parish for the 21st century, a place where all people can find a place for themselves in the Kingdom of God.
Over the past 30 years the parish has become a place of diverse theological viewpoints, where members take an inquiring approach to their faith. On Sunday mornings we have a choice of joining in worship in either a traditional or a contemporary service.
We describe ourselves as “A diverse community, worshiping God and serving people.” We try to live up to that vision every day, and we hope that you will think about joining us for worship or become involved in our community.
Memorial is a parish in the Diocese of Maryland. The Right Reverend Eugene Taylor Sutton is the Bishop of Maryland. The Episcopal Church consists of 109 dioceses in the United States, Central America, and Asia. The Most Reverend Michael Bruce Curry is the Presiding Bishop, Primate, and Chief Pastor of the Episcopal Church. The Episcopal Church is a member of the worldwide Anglican Communion.
OUR TEAM
Worshipping God. Serving People.
Worship Leaders
Click on any linked name (in grey, rather than black) to email that staff member.
The Rev. Pamela “Pan” Conrad
Interim Rector
Bio
The Rev. Nathaniel Gibson
Deacon Associate
Bio
Justine Koontz
Music Director
Parish Staff
Class of 2024 - 2025
Stacy Wells
Beth Torres
Amy Krulak
Scott Purnell-Saunders
Class of 2025 - 2026
Thomas Penniston
Ryan Strum
Wendy Yap
Keenan Dvorak-Fisher
Class of 2026 - 2027
David Dimmock
David Toia
Steve Howard
(Opening)
WHAT WE BELIEVE
Memorial Church is a progressive faith community that is rooted in the orthodox traditions of the Christian Faith.
We believe in the Trinity (but we may not agree on what that means).
We believe Christ is the Son of God (though we may express it differently).
We believe that scripture is the inspired Word of God (which does not make it, or us, infallible)
And it is because of these things that we believe that Christ came for the meek, the lowly and the lost. That the Church should open its doors to people of all races, colors, backgrounds and identities and that we should not seek to keep God from anyone - no matter who they are or whom they love.
Memorial affirms the full inclusion of all of God’s people in the Kingdom of God and at the altar, regardless of race, gender, orientation or identity. We are proud to have been the first church in Maryland to call a female priest, the first to call an openly LGBT priest, the first to conduct a same sex-blessing, and a continuing support of the LGB and T communities here in Baltimore.
We are only now fully recognizing the longer history of our parishes history of supporting segregation, Jim Crow and the legacy of slavery until the 1960s here in Baltimore and are working to “repair the breach” as we are called to do by the prophet Isaiah.