Mark E. Lail was elected President for the Church of the Nazarene Foundation by the Foundation's Board of Directors in March 2022 after serving for ten years as the Foundation's Executive Vice President. Prior to this he served as Director of Stewardship Ministries for The Church of the Nazarene for ten years, and as a senior pastor for 22 years, most recently at the Fishcreek Nazarene Worship Center in Akron, Ohio.
Lail believes that the Foundation plays an increasingly important role for resourcing all Nazarene ministries, from the local church to the global mission. He is honored by the expression of confidence that the Foundation Board has placed in him.
He serves as chief operations officer for the Foundation with responsibility for oversight of office operations, donor relations, and institutional planned giving development. In addition to regularly conducting financial workshops, preaching, and making planned giving presentations to churches, he also meets one-on-one with donors to accomplish structured gifts.
He is a graduate of Mount Vernon Nazarene University and Nazarene Theological Seminary. Lail also holds a Doctor of Ministry degree in Spiritual Formation and Church Growth from Fuller Theological Seminary. He has served in several positions including district treasurer, district Sunday School Ministries chairman, and instructor for the Nazarene Bible College extension on the East Ohio District. He has served on several boards including the Church of the Nazarene Foundation board, the East Ohio District Advisory Board, the Mount Vernon Nazarene University Board of Trustees, the East Ohio Board of Ministerial Studies, and the East Ohio Board of Ministerial Credentials.
Lail and his wife Ruth live in rural Ottawa, Kansas, where they enjoy farm animals and country surroundings. They have five daughters and four grandchildren.