In August 2006, the congregation of St. Mary's voted unanimously to take the first steps toward Total Ministry.

Total Ministry is all the baptized members of the church ministering together. Members of the congregation are trained to serve as a team in the ministerial leadership roles traditionally filled by a seminary-trained priest. Total Ministry may also be called "mutual ministry," or "collaborative ministry." Total Ministry congregations have the full range of traditional ministries – regular Eucharist, original sermons, and personal pastoral care.

The ministry of the baptized is part of the Christian tradition. Scripture assures us that "each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good" (1 Corinthians 12:7) and that together we make up the Body of Christ. Many congregations in both the early church as described in Scripture and the beginnings of our Episcopal Church in this country ministered together without resident priests for every church. At St. Mary's, our current Vicar, Pat Gillespie (a traditionally seminary-trained priest) will continue to serve as Pastoral Mentor and supply priest as we make the transition to Total Ministry, which will take approximately three years of discernment, study, and prayer.