Today we’d like to introduce you to John Mark Wiggers.
Hi John Mark, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Sixteen years ago, I felt a real pull toward St. James Episcopal Church because they genuinely cared about making a difference in the community. The stunning scenery of East Tennessee and the vibrant opportunities in Knoxville made me even more excited to accept the role of Rector here. My wife and I packed up our belongings and made the move from Atlanta. I’ve been so grateful ever since to serve as a priest for a parish that has truly inspired and challenged me.
What drew me to St. James was the fact that the parish seeks to serve the commuity. We are an Episcopal Church that carries on the richness of our Christian tradition. I delight in bringing forward the ancient stories and practices as they speak to us today. I have been interested in spirituality, scripture, and faithful living for a good part of my life. At St. James, we practice our faith not only by prayer and study, but also by actively seeking to love our neighbor. The church campus sits on North Broadway where we see new businesses, old homes remodeled, and unhoused neighbors in need.
Walking alongside our congregation as we worked to feed those in need who came to our doors, we also started to ask ourselves how we could address the root causes of poverty. In 2016, the church became part of a community organizing group composed of different churches and organizations. I was honored to be elected as one of the first co-presidents of Justice Knox when it launched that fall. This organization encouraged us to listen to the stories of our neighbors facing challenges, brainstorm practical solutions, and advocate for our leaders to help make those solutions a reality. It was a different kind of work compared to handing out sandwiches, voicing concerns at city council, or offering thoughts and prayers. It has deeply rooted my faith and broadened my passion for bringing hope and meaningful change to our community.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Talking about community problems and calling on community leaders to commit to solutions raised some eyebrows. There were parishioners who felt this work was too political and too confrontational. Some folks saw bringing large numbers of people together to ask elected officials to make commitments as an oversimplification or just plain bullying. We have continued to work over the years and have received commitments to train more law enforcement officers in Crisis Intervention Training, to get regular reporting on discipline data from schools, to establish an affordable housing trust fund, and many other important issues for our city and county.
That work happens as St. James also does the day-to-day ministry of feeding people, and being a center of spiritual and community nurturing. I am kept busy offering pastoral and spiritual care, preaching, teaching, and sometimes mopping up after a pipe bursts. We have struggled with how to serve the unhoused who come to us for help. The joys outweigh the negatives as we build relationships and try to connect people with resources.
We’ve been impressed with St James Episcopal Church, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
St. James Episcopal Church was chartered in 1923. It is part of the Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee. Fr. John Mark Wiggers is the 5th rector of the congregation and began serving at St. James in September 2009. The parish has a history of feeding people through the Helping Hands Food Pantry and through the Doorstep Ministry, which gives out snack bags and helps direct people to community resources.
We are a church that has a more formal worship style in a beautiful space. The congregation completed a renovation in September of 2023 that celebrated the 100th anniversary of the parish. We are proud to carry on the rich traditions of Christian worship and practice while bringing our faith to meet contemporary issues. St. James has long been affirming and welcoming of people, regardless of sexuality or identity. We are very active in offering a ministry of mercy by seeking to meet the needs of others, while calling for justice as we advocate for policies that protect and support vulnerable people.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
As St. James moves into another century of work, we will continue to be committed to the Christian message of love, inclusion, and reconciliation. Our recent renovation has us looking at how we use our space. We want to continue to be a community space. Many organizations use our spaces to meet. In our renovation, we removed the pews from the main church building and replaced them with chairs. This allows for a more flexible space that we can use for concerts and other gatherings beyond our Sunday worship services. We hope to be a spiritual resource as well as a community dedicated to serving the community.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.stjamesknox.org
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@stjamesknox
