Brandon Raney

Class of 2024

About

Each of the Vestry members were asked to reflect on the following questions:

WHY DO YOU FEEL CALLED TO SERVE ON THE VESTRY OF ST. MARK’S?

As members of St. Mark’s, my family and I have appreciated the community environment, quality of leadership, and outreach opportunities the church provides. Elizabeth and I began attending St. Mark’s shortly after we were married in 2004 and have since enjoyed watching our two children grow up within the St. Mark’s community. Although I have been involved in a handful of volunteer and other church activities, I feel compelled to engage more. My wife has been able to give back through her work on the Vestry and the Rector Search Committee, and I was able to see directly the impact such involvement can make. St. Mark’s has given so much to our family, and I am honored to have been considered for the Vestry where I believe I can fulfill my desire to give back to the church.

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PLEASE DESCRIBE YOUR PARTICIPATION AT ST. MARK’S AND/OR IN THE COMMUNITY, INDICATING EXPERIENCES THAT YOU THINK WILL BE HELPFUL FOR THE VESTRY.

I have participated in several volunteer opportunities at St. Marks over the years, including Christmas to the Streets and SAMMinistries. But the activity that really drew me into the collaborative environment that defines St. Mark’s discernment process occurred when I was invited to join the Lenten Offerings Task Force in 2015. The task force was made up of a varied group of parishioners who were able to work toward the common goal of envisioning and executing a renewed Lenten offering within which the St. Mark’s community can engage. The discernment experience and exposure to the St. Mark’s consensus model was enlightening to me and I believe will help guide my involvement as a member of the Vestry.

Additionally, I am a board member of Good Samaritan Community Services, and my experience working with this Episcopal non-profit ministry will translate well to my participation on the Vestry.

Finally, I work in downtown San Antonio every day, and through my business I have extensive involvement with the City of San Antonio that may be helpful to our community engagement efforts.

ST. MARK’S CORE VOCATION IS FEEDING SAN ANTONIO WITH THE BREAD OF LIFE: FEEDING THE HUNGRY WITH REAL FOOD; FEEDING THOSE WHO ARE HUNGRY FOR KNOWLEDGE AND MEANING; FEEDING THOSE WHO ARE HUNGRY FOR BEAUTY AND CREATIVITY. HOW DO YOU ENVISION THE VESTRY WORKING IN SUPPORT OF THIS VOCATION?

During the past several years following the formal definition of St. Mark’s Core Vocation, I have watched the church’s efforts to intentionally live into this vocation. I believe the Vestry can work to support the church by helping to guide outreach opportunities we pursue as a community (whether through giving of time or money) that fall within each of the tenets of this vocation. The St. Mark’s community is full of talented people who are eager to give of themselves, and we need to ensure that opportunities for participation in the Core Vocation are available and communicated effectively.

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WHEN DID YOU JOIN ST. MARK’S AND WHAT CONTINUES TO DRAW YOU TO THIS COMMUNITY?

My wife and I joined St. Mark’s in 2007 after attending for two years following our marriage. Initially, John Lewis and Jane Patterson drew us to the St. Mark’s community through The Workshop. Since then we have grown to love the people, leadership, various ministries, traditions, and most importantly, our children’s engagement in church. St. Mark’s is a special place that we cherish.