Richard Graves is the Rector of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Fort Dodge, Iowa, and The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, Webster City, Iowa. Father Richard grew up in Long Beach, California, and was ordained a priest in the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles in 1979.
Most recently, Father Richard has been the President & CEO of the Wallace House Foundation, Des Moines, Iowa. He has extensive experience in administration and management, development, leadership training, and planning. The mission of the Wallace House Foundation is to build community through conversation about contemporary issues. The Foundation serves a neutral, non-partisan facilitator of small group dialogue and promotes discussion of and education about issues of public concern. The Foundation operates an historic house museum and vice presidential archive dedicated to preserving the legacy of the Wallace family of Iowa.
Before assuming this role, Father Richard served for almost six years on the staff of the Iowa Association of Business and Industry Foundation, where he directed two programs, Leadership Iowa and the Excellence in Teaching Institute. Prior to these positions, Fr. Richard, a nearly native Californian, spent 18 years in active parish ministry serving congregations in Southern California and Iowa. He holds degrees in History and Theology from the College of Idaho, Caldwell, Idaho, and the Church Divinity School of the Pacific, Berkeley, California, respectively. From 1994 to 1996, he was Vicar of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and the Episcopal Chaplain of Grinnell College.
Father Richard is married to Amy Burkle Graves, a native Iowan who serves as the Director of Internships at Grinnell College. Together they have six children ranging in age from 18 to 24.
Parish Office:
St. Mark's Episcopal Church
1007 First Avenue South
Fort Dodge, Iowa 50501
ph. 515-576-2019
fax 515-576-0632
