We are blessed to have two clergy currently appointed to serve St. Mark’s with their unique gifts, Rev. Ben Williams and Rev. Lib Campbell.
Rev. Ben Williams
Ben serves joyfully as the Lead Pastor of St. Mark’s United Methodist Church located in Raleigh, North Carolina. Prior to his appointment to St. Mark’s UMC in June of 2005, Ben served as the Pastor of Contemporary Worship and Witness at Millbrook UMC from 2002 to 2005.
Ben and his wife, Anna, are natives of Wilson, North Carolina. Ben is an extremely proud graduate of Wake Forest University. He graduated with a B.S. in Business and was on his way to make his fortune on Wall Street. However, God had other plans for his life and in response to God’s calling to ordained ministry, Ben shifted focus and enrolled in Duke Divinity School. Ben graduated with a Masters of Divinity degree from Duke and accepted his first appointment in 2002.
Ben’s primary work at St. Mark’s has been and continues to be focused around helping this congregation define and live into a bold vision for ministry. Ben understands that all, clergy and laity alike, are called to active, servant ministry. Therefore St. Mark’s mission is to Reach Out, Transform Lives, and Empower servants. This is the work of everyone at St. Mark’s not just the clergy or the staff but all who are baptized. Our belief is that God has empowered us to fling open our doors and to serve not ourselves but our community and God’s world.
In addition to his work at St. Mark’s UMC, Ben has completed the 2-Year Academy for Spiritual Formation, sponsored by The Upper Room. Ben also serves on the Raleigh District Board of Ordained Ministry in an effort to help others discern and live into a call to ministry. Out of his deep love for camping and retreat ministries, Ben works as a part of the North Carolina United Methodist Camp and Retreat Ministries Inc. Board of Trustees. For the academic year 2008-2009, Ben will be a participant in The Royce and Jane Reynolds Program in Church Leadership: A Joint Program of Duke Divinity School and The Center for Creative Leadership.
Ben and his wife Anna have two very young children who bring such great joy, laughter, and purpose to their lives. Ben is an avid sailor and has a first rate love of reading. When not at church he can be found playing with his family, sailing, working in his yard, or in the local bookstore.
Rev. Lib Campbell
Lib is thrilled to serve as the Pastor of Spiritual Formation at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church located in Raleigh, North Carolina. Prior to her appointment to St. Mark’s UMC in June of 2007, Lib served as Associate Pastor at St. Frances UMC from 2000 to 2007. Her primary work there was in the area of Spiritual Formation, Discipleship, and Stewardship.
Pastor Lib delivering a sermon
Lib’s love of the church has been present from her time of growing up in a family that practiced “If it was Sunday, the Strouds would be in church” in Ayden, North Carolina. Both Lib and her husband, Tom Campbell, have been servants in the church and partners in ministry since the beginning of their marriage 43 years ago. Lib gave new meaning to the term “Elder” in the United Methodist Church when she was ordained as an Elder in 2004 at the age of 58. Lib has an undergraduate degree in Religion from Meredith College in Raleigh and a Masters of Divinity degree from the Divinity School of Duke University. She loved every minute of her time in school!
Lib’s work at Saint Mark’s UMC is the work of growing disciples of Jesus Christ through Bible Study, Lectio Divina and other disciplines of prayer and praise. Being “shaped in the word” is the way we as the church will live Christ for the world. The other work Lib does is in the area of Congregational Care in ministries like Stephen Ministry, Communion Ministry, and a brand new ministry… the Saint Mark’s Care Connection that will offer hands on care to members in need. Saint Mark’s is experiencing revival as our part of Midtowne Raleigh is revived. “This is an exciting time and place to be. God is doing a great thing at Saint Mark’s.” Lib smiles when she says this!
Lib completed the Upper Room Academy for Spiritual Formation in 2007 and currently serves on the Leadership Team of the North Carolina 5-Day Academy for Spiritual Formation. She has served as a Retreat Leader for congregations and women’s groups across the North Carolina Conference. She served for the past eight years on the Conference Connectional Table and will begin service on the Conference Spiritual Life Team this year. Lib and Tom are also active supporters with JDRF, helping to find a cure for Juvenile Diabetes.
Lib and Tom enjoy their family and their four grandchildren all of whom live in Raleigh. And their favorite place to be, other than right here at home, is “Cambelot,” their home on the Neuse River near Camp Don Lee. Lib loves to draw, paint, read and play her piano! She invites you to join the journey of faith with the good people of Saint Mark’s UMC in Raleigh. Together we will grow in faith that we may serve in love!
