The Rev. Mark Sargent
United Methodist Church
The Rev. Mark Sargent has been a United Methodist minister since 1979. His most recent appointments include having served as senior pastor of Embry Hills United Methodist in Atlanta, as the founding Pastor of Augusta's Wesley United Methodist Church, and as the Senior Pastor at First United Methodist Church in Rome, Georgia.
Mark has a B.A. degree in English Literature from Augusta College, a Master of Divinity, magna cum laude, from Emory University's Candler School of Theology, and a Master of Arts in Psychology, summa cum laude, from the University of West Georgia. He is presently pursuing licensure as a professional counselor. Among his areas of interest are the psychology of religious belief, bereavement, and the psychology of forgiveness. Mark has a special interest and some expertise in the phenomenon of religious wounding, and he appreciates the opportunity to sit with and to help those who identify themselves as having been injured by faulty religious teaching or by painful life experiences within a religious context. In addition, he stands and speaks on the progressive frontier of the church, seeking to help the church articulate a relevant message for our changing and shrinking world.
He serves on the board of trustees of the Alliance for Christian Media, the parent organization of Day1.
Mark's hobbies are golf and cooking, and he does both from scratch. He is the proud parent of three adult children: Wes, Rachel, and Hannah.
Latest Content by The Rev. Mark Sargent
The Rev. Mark Sargent
(
UMC)
You've no doubt heard by now of the remarks made on January 17 by Alabama governor Robert Bentley. After being sworn into office, he addressed a crowd at Montgomery's Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church, which Dr. King once served as pastor. In that speech, he made remarks that are searingly insensitive and sadly shallow. Here they are, in part.
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The Rev. Mark Sargent
(
UMC)
I was leafing through a book of poems the other day. That's what we English Lit. majors do from time to time! I hope you find this little gem from the pen of Gerald Locklin to be as nourishing and resonant as I did. By the way, like e.e. cummings, Dr. Locklin believes that capital letters are highly overrated. The poem is entitled, "where we are."
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Other Recent Content by The Rev. Mark Sargent
September 20, 2010
The Rev. Mark Sargent
(UMC)
Anytime we want to misunderstand the religion of loving others, we may do so. How about the Golden Rule? What if we treated the religions and sacred texts of others as we would wish for them to treat our religion and our sacred texts?
September 13, 2010
The Rev. Mark Sargent
(UMC)
Loss is a part of life. These days, loss is prevalent. There is hope.
August 10, 2010
The Rev. Mark Sargent
(UMC)
A trip to the market one day reminded me of something really important about the Christian journey. That trip reminded me that Christianity isn't so much talking as it is walking.
May 06, 2010
The Rev. Mark Sargent
(UMC)
For the life of me, I don't understand why Christian communities cannot get their thinking right! And, the longer we Christians demonstrate an inability to reflect intelligently on important issues, the more we exacerbate the wounds we have inflicted and the less-than-stellar reputation we enjoy.
April 28, 2010
The Rev. Mark Sargent
(UMC)
For the sake of our own spiritual and psychological health, and for the sake of the Church's mission in the world, we Christians must always include the best of human intellect in whatever claims we make.
January 29, 2010
The Rev. Mark Sargent
(UMC)
Do I need to ask forgiveness for thinking that the late Pope's self-flagellation represents neither saintly nor healthy behavior?
January 28, 2010
The Rev. Mark Sargent
(UMC)
Am I the only one who is tired of being misrepresented by Christians and caricatured by some who aren't?
January 12, 2010
The Rev. Mark Sargent
(UMC)
When's the last time your church stopped to ponder what messages are given to the children in your charge?
December 10, 2009
The Rev. Mark Sargent
(UMC)
What if eschatology is a paradigm for doing spiritual business today and not a preoccupation with what happens tomorrow?
November 25, 2009
The Rev. Mark Sargent
(UMC)
Theological terms are not self-evident and thus require definition. Since those definitions differ from one person to another, Christian conversation takes time and love!
October 21, 2009
The Rev. Mark Sargent
(UMC)
I have a thought or two after overhearing some of the conversations taking place within a sister denomination.
August 25, 2009
The Rev. Mark Sargent
(UMC)
Thanks to the many of you who responded to my recent Day1 sermon! As you might expect, your responses covered a huge waterfront!
The Rev. Mark Sargent
(UMC)
In an extended interview with host Peter Wallace, the Rev. Mark Sargent talks about progressive theology and its practical implications for Christian communities. He also explores the concept of religious wounding and how churches can address it.
August 02, 2009
The Rev. Mark Sargent
(UMC)
I went to Montana and found The Gap there.
The Rev. Mark Sargent
(UMC)
Day1 Host Peter Wallace sits down for the second installment of his conversation with the Rev. Mark Sargent as they discuss an issue close to Mark's heart: Religious Wounding. Mark's understanding of human psychology, and work as a pastor, has led him to believe that a form of spiritual and emotional trauma is prevalent in today's world and is partially to blame for the lack of interest in Christian institutions, and in some cases ideals, today.
The Rev. Mark Sargent
(UMC)
The Rev. Mark Sargent, blogger, pastor and popular Day1 preacher, sits down with our host Peter Wallace to discuss a progressive theology from its historical roots to the state of Christianity today. The two focus on the challenges facing the church today from the perspective of an ancient intellectual divide over the importance, and place, of modern discovery and thought.
August 02, 2009
The Rev. Mark Sargent
(UMC)
The Rev. Mark Sargent offers a provocative and faith-stretching view of the life and teachings of the church in this postmodern age.
July 13, 2009
The Rev. Mark Sargent
(UMC)
This summer season of this perfect fruit affords an opportunity for us to reflect on our own Christian fruitfulness.
July 01, 2009
The Rev. Mark Sargent
(UMC)
I have an idea for what we might ponder doing when we hear of someone who is struggling.
May 18, 2009
The Rev. Mark Sargent
(UMC)
Unconditionally loving oneself and all others is the chief hallmark of spiritual and psychological health. How is it with you these days?
May 08, 2009
The Rev. Mark Sargent
(UMC)
Planet Earth has undergone some dramatic changes in the past century or so! And, it's probably more precise to say that the world that we once knew has not only moved but has ended. What implications does that have for us who are followers of Jesus?
April 28, 2009
The Rev. Mark Sargent
(UMC)
Too often and very sadly, much of Christian religion has become a matter of articulating theological concepts in a way that is intellectually indefensible, not to mention psychologically damaging.
January 15, 2006
The Rev. Mark Sargent
(UMC)
The Rev. Mark Sargent is pastor of Embry Hills United Methodist Church, Atlanta, GA. In his third sermon in the series, "Into the Brave New World", Rev. Sargent explores Christianity and multifaith dialogue.
January 08, 2006
The Rev. Mark Sargent
(UMC)
The Rev. Mark Sargent is pastor of Embry Hills United Methodist Church, Atlanta, GA. In his second sermon in the series, "Into the Brave New World", Rev. Sargent explores biblical literalism.
January 01, 2006
The Rev. Mark Sargent
(UMC)
The Rev. Mark Sargent is pastor of Embry Hills United Methodist Church, Atlanta, GA. This is the first sermon in the series "Into the Brave New World."
January 02, 2005
The Rev. Mark Sargent
(UMC)
The Rev. Mark Sargent is pastor of Embry Hills United Methodist Church, Atlanta, GA.
November 21, 2004
The Rev. Mark Sargent
(UMC)
The Rev. Mark Sargent is pastor of Embry Hills United Methodist Church, Atlanta, GA.
October 17, 2004
The Rev. Mark Sargent
(UMC)
The Rev. Mark Sargent is pastor of Embry Hills United Methodist Church, Atlanta, GA.
September 12, 2004
The Rev. Mark Sargent
(UMC)
The Rev. Mark Sargent is pastor of Embry Hills United Methodist Church, Atlanta, GA, looks at the parable of the lost talent and applies it to our lives.
August 08, 2004
The Rev. Mark Sargent
(UMC)
The Rev. Mark Sargent is pastor of Embry Hills United Methodist Church, Atlanta, Georgia, wrestles with the question, what is a follower of Jesus supposed to do with his or her stuff?
June 27, 2004
The Rev. Mark Sargent
(UMC)
The Rev. Mark Sargent is pastor of Embry Hills United Methodist Church, Atlanta, Georgia, takes a look at what it means to follow Jesus--and where we're going.
