Rev. Mark Chase

Ken's Blog

Musings, reflections, and observations from the Beached White Male

Ken's Blog

Musings, reflections and observations from the Beached White Male

Rev. Mark Chase, All Saints Episcopal, Pasadena

The Beached White Male Podcast with Ken Kemp

S3E32 Rev. Mark Chase, Associate Rector at All Saints

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May 14, 2022

Ken Kemp

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Ken welcomes the newly appointed Associate Rector of the historic All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena. Ken got to know "Chase" (his preferred name) at the Center for Racial Reconciliation. They open with a discussion of his first sermon at the church - a powerful, high-energy, prophetic word. A graduate of Fuller Theological Seminary, Chase has thought deeply about the dynamics of both "blackness" and "whiteness." In his new position, technically - "Father Chase" - believes his calling is to make the gospel good news for all people. Chase shares his stories of awakenings, from his awareness of enslavement in his ancestry that is rooted in Guyana in the Caribbean, to high school and on to college in New York. His Episcopal legacy goes all the way back to the Anglicanism of the colonial era. As a high school kid, he fell in love (Tupac) with rap - and engaged in freestyle rap competitions. As an English and Political Science major at the State College of New York in Albany, he got serious about his faith. In seminary (Fuller Theological Seminary), he encountered a "white, Eurocentric" version of Christianity. His awareness drove him into a broader exploration, especially with professors Dr. Ralph Watkins, Dr. Love Seacrest, Dr. Mignon Jacobs, and Dr. Anthea Butler. They talk about the "black exodus" at FTS. Chase takes issue with the label "affirming" and would rather talk about what is means to be human. Chase addresses the current backlash against conversations around race and racial history in America. SHOW NOTES

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Podcast Show Notes

from the All Saints Episcopal Church web site

Chase holds a Masters of Divinity from Fuller Seminary, and is deeply committed to pursuing racial justice, pursuing the real Jesus, and helping to dismantle the burdens of white supremacy and the myriad ways it manifests itself within ourselves and our communities.

He has spent the last several years of his pastoral ministry experience at Fellowship Church in Monrovia (2014-2021), and Fellowship’s Center for Racial Reconciliation. At The Fellowship Center he helped design workshops, create curricula, administer trainings and equip congregants to dismantle racism and white supremacy within their local contexts. He also provided pastoral care and counseling, and deeply believes that caring for our souls and caring for our societies are intrinsically linked and must not be dichotomized.

Chase was drawn to All Saints due to its history of being a prophetic witness for the marginalized, as well as its recent history of providing a safe refuge to those advocating for Black Lives. He has also served in youth ministry, and as a youth advocate and counselor for young people in the foster care system. He thoroughly enjoys helping people receive a bigger and kinder vision of God through preaching, poetry, and storytelling over food. Mark wants you to be encouraged and to know that you’re a good person, who is doing the best that they can.

In addition to being a pastor, Chase is also a poet, writer and rapper. He believes art plays a pivotal role in the restoration and healing of the world. Chase fell in love with words at a young age. At an older age he fell in love again, this time with his best friend and now spouse, Keyanna. Keyanna is a Marriage and Family Therapist with a concentration on serving communities of color. Together they have two beautiful toddlers, Ezra and Elijah, both of whom are usually awake before 6am. As Chase says, “This means any falling in love with sleep will be put on pause for this season of life, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”

Chase grew up in the Episcopal Church, however his ordination is not in the Episcopal Church. So All Saints took the additional step of meeting with Bishop Taylor and consulting others throughout the Episcopal Church to assure he would be fully able to exercise the ministry of Associate Rector, including presiding at worship – which we have accomplished within church canons!