On March 22, 1999 Mark was ordained by the Universal Life Church. On April 8, 2014, Mark was presented his Doctorate of Divinity degree from The Universal Life Church. In May of 2016, Mark founded, Dallas Universal Life Church, Inc., a modern nondenominational Christian church that is promoting itself as a church of doers rather than just talkers. The church was incorporated in the State of Texas and granted 501(c)3 tax exempt status from the IRS on May 31, 2016. The church motto "Non Diligamus Verbo Nec Lingua Sed En Opere Et Veritate." translated from the Latin "But let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed.", highlights the church's emphasis on action rather than just words. On June 22nd, 2016 Reverend Manning was bestowed the title of Bishop from the Universal Life Church. Bishop Manning continues to offer spiritual counseling and pastors Dallas Universal Life Church leading the day to day operations as well as any services such as baptisms, funerals, weddings, and Sunday services which offers readings from the Old and New Testament, the Gospel, A Sermon by Bishop Manning or a guest speaker, confession and absolution of sins, and offering an all inclusive communion at his home in Dallas. "Many start up churches begin this way," Bishop Manning stated, "It's a process. Hopefully we will be blessed and be able to move a little quicker than some." "We hope things really take off and we can get out there and deliver our message of God's all inclusive, unconditional love and fulfill our duty, as the Jesuits say, to be 'Men and Women for Others.'" Mark attended Jesuit College Preparatory School in Dallas who's slogan was and remains "Men for Others", an ideal which Bishop Manning has held close to his heart. He can be often found using the slogan in his counseling and while preaching and calls the saying "a cornerstone of the church."

Future plans are lofty to say the least and include a permanent home for the church and its offices, finances for a small administrative staff and a salary for the Bishop who as of yet does not take a paycheck, a thrift store selling donated second hand items to benefit the church and its ministry, various Human Rights outreach programs helping those who are oppressed and discriminated against or those who are simply down on their luck and a food pantry for the hungry.