In Memory of Mark Peters Ward (August 17, 1953 – July 13, 2022)

Rev. Mark Peters Ward died on July 13, 2022, at the age of 68.

Mark was born on August 17, 1953, in Wilmington, DE to Cynthia and Jack Ward. The eldest of five children, he grew up in central New Jersey. Growing up, he discovered his dimension of spirituality at the Unitarian Church of Princeton, NJ. The church modeled for him the kind of things that a religious community was capable of, the church became a refuge, a place where he felt safe. He believed that he belonged there. He became president of the Liberal Religious Youth group in his senior year, and in 1971, a youth delegate to the General Assembly. As an adult, he was active serving as president of the board at the Kanawha Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Charleston, West Virginia.

Mark received his Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Earlham College, Richmond, IN in 1975 following which he was admitted to a graduate program at Bryn Mawr College, PA. He wrote his thesis on American philosopher Charles Sanders Pierce, completed his master’s degree in philosophy (1976), and realized that academic life would not satisfy him. He started writing articles for newspapers and found journalism exhilarating. His journalist ambition carried him to the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, NY where he graduated with a Master of Science in Journalism in 1979. Also in 1979, he married Debbie, the woman he met at the Princeton church. Mark then worked as a journalist for twenty years for the Milwaukee Journal and Milwaukee Journal Sentinel winning both statewide and national reporting awards.

After many years of extensive lay ministry and reflection, Mark wanted to invest himself more deeply in the UU movement. For twenty years, he held numerous positions of lay leadership at the Unitarian Universalist Church West in Brookfield, WI. He was president of the board for two terms during a half-million-dollar capital campaign as well as a chairman of two search committees, the committee on ministry and a long-range planning committee. He taught children’s and adult education classes and led children’s and adult worship. This richly satisfying experience made him realize that ministry was his calling. Becoming a minister, he hoped to encourage the congregation to serve to name and live out its vision. In the wake of this call, in 2004, he graduated from Meadville Lombard Theological School, IL with his Master of Divinity.

Rev. Ward was ordained by the UU Congregation of Asheville, NC on February 6, 2005, where he served in the parish from 2004 to 2021. His ministry was instrumental in moving the congregation in the direction of a richer, broader-based, and more inclusive social justice ministry. He made the congregation stronger in dealing with racism, gay rights, battered women, etc., and was strongly committed to welcoming newcomers. Rev. Ward supported the religious education program and intergenerational worship and activities offering RE classes, as well as adult education classes. He infused the congregation with freshness and revitalized it in a way that created a lot of growth, and his success was evidenced by the dramatic growth in membership. People felt good about being a part of the congregation. He also served the congregation as a Social Justice Chair (2018-2019) and Anti Racism/ JTW chair (2018-2019). In 2021, he retired from his active ministry.

With his strong UU background and his UU connections, Rev. Ward was a walking denominational activity. He co-led a workshop on church publicity at the 1990 General Assembly in Milwaukee. He was a Chapter Leader for Southeast UUMA (2008-2010) and a member of the Unitarian Universalist Ministers Association and the Friends of Religious Humanism. Rev. Ward was a wonderful preacher and a strong and visionary leader who fostered lay leadership and made the church healthier. His powerful leadership combined with his compassion and desire for the spiritual growth of the church community showed his commitment to the larger UU movement.
Mark was also a strong advocate of efforts to build community. He became a voice for marriage equality in North Carolina and was involved with the community’s Marriage Equality coalition. His strong, visible stand on marriage equality brought community attention. In addition, he worked with Habitat for Humanity. In his spare time, he loved music and played the piano and recorder. He was also an avid gardener, an intrepid cook, and enjoyed hiking, canoeing, and sailing.

Mark is survived by his spouse: Debbie; daughters: Anna, Erica, and Meredith; son-in-law: Langdon; grandchildren: Eliza and Lucille; and siblings: Keith, Terry, and the Rev. Lisa Ward.

A memorial service to celebrate his life was held on Friday, July 29, 2022, at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville, 1 Edwin Pl., Asheville, NC, 28801.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Mark’s name may be made to the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville (address above) or Asheville Greenworks.

Notes of condolences can be sent to Debbie Ward, 60 Elk Mountain Scenic Highway, Asheville, NC 28804.