Dr. Patricia N. Marks is a Deaconess in the United Methodist Church.  In responding to her call to alleviate suffering and eradicate causes of injustice she serves the incarcerated, newly released, their families and communities.    

Dr. Marks serves as the Executive Director of Patmos Ministries coaching non-profit organizations and churches in proposal writing. Since founding Patmos Ministries in 2003, she has conducted research on possible funding sources for approximately 20 faith based and community organizations, identified more than 200 possible sources of funding for these organizations, and submitted proposals and letters of inquiry which resulted in almost $4 million in funding.  In her proposal development skills, Dr. Marks has supervised and selected contract grant writers and has designed evaluation components for grant funded programs.  Dr. Marks is an experienced proposal reviewer having served on more than a dozen review panels for state and federal Departments of Education and Departments of Health and Human Services.     

Dr. Marks currently serves as the Associate Chaplain at the Corrections Corporation of America Correctional Treatment Facility (CCA/CTF) in Washington, DC and serves on the CSOSA Faith Community Partnership Advisory Council.  She is active in the Kairos Prison Ministry Program in Virginia.  Dr. Marks participated in the planning of the Women’s Re-entry Forum held in March 2004 and has provided input to the Washington DC Ex-offender Reentry Coalition, the Baltimore City Ex-Offender Task Force, and the Prince George’s County Ex-Offender Task Force.    

Dr. Marks’ current passion is “the toothpaste project” which promotes health and hygiene in CCA/CTF and DC Jail and awareness in area churches.  Dr. Marks co-chaired the Virginia Annual Conference Bishop’s Task Force on Prisoner-Re-entry and is the principle author of the Task Force’s Report: “Keep Them Innocent”.  She serves on the planning committee of the National Women’s Prison Project Women’s Re-Entry Conference to be held November 12, 2005 at Coppin State University, Baltimore, Maryland.  Patricia demonstrates her care and concern for the children of the incarcerated by mentoring children who attend the United Methodist Virginia Conference All God’s Children Camp. Dr. Marks is avidly bringing together communities of, local governments, businesses, and community based organizations to provide persons returning from incarceration in the metropolitan Washington, DC area with accurate and up-to-date information on services and systems of support.   

Dr. Marks received her Master’s Degree in Divinity from Wesley Theological Seminary and her Doctorate in Early Childhood Education from the University of Maryland. She is a graduate of Leadership Maryland and Leadership Fairfax.   

Dr. Marks speaks frequently to groups and organizations about her experiences and the 137 biblical references to prisoners and incarceration.  She is compiling her reflections into a book titled Peter’s Promise. 

She can be reached at Patmos Ministries: pnmarks@patmosministries.net or 703-569-7237