The Sixth Mark of Mission: Building Financially Sustainable Congregations

The Episcopal Church has adopted “Five Marks of Mission” to guide the work of its congregations.  The marks are:

  • To proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom;
  • To teach, baptize and nurture new believers;
  • To respond to human need by loving service;
  • To seek to transform unjust structures of society,
  • To challenge violence of every kind and to pursue peace and reconciliation;
  • To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth.


We believe there is a sixth mark of mission that is essential if congregations hope to achieve any of the original five marks of mission.  The sixth mark is to build financially sustainable congregations.