The son of a U.S. Army Chaplain / Presbyterian minister, Pastor Steve moved numerous times stateside and overseas before settling with his family of origin in southern New Jersey for his developmental years. He was a practicing Christian from a young age, but turned his life over to Jesus Christ on a camping retreat as a teenager to begin his personal relationship with the Lord.
Steve attended Haddon Heights High School (Class of 1977) and Rutgers University (B.A. Psychology, 1982), all along being drawn to the helping professions. He earned his Master of Arts degree in clinical psychology from Fairleigh Dickinson University (1984), and had begun an internship in the field when he experienced a powerful call to the ordained ministry.
In 1989 Steve received his Master of Divinity degree from Princeton Theological Seminary and began his first pastorate at Providence Presbyterian Church in Burlington (Florence Twp.), New Jersey. Moving to Mineral County, West Virginia during the \”blizzard of 1996\”, Steve served as Pastor of Keyser Presbyterian Church for 4 1/2 years before his call to Wayside.
Steve married his high school sweetheart, Meg (Margaret Culbertson) in 1989, and the two now have three young adult children – Sarah, and twins Brian and Andrew. Steve and Meg built a home in West Hempfield with Steve’s parents in 2002 for mutual support and long term care.
Prior to ordination Steve worked in geriatric care, special education, and the court system as a probation officer. His hobbies include making music with guitar and voice, playing lunchtime basketball at the local gym, and tending to his home orchard.
Our pastor describes himself as a “liberal conservative”, clear on his own biblical and theological positions, but open to dialogue and mutual ministry with people of diverging opinions. He is committed to ecumenical relations, understanding the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to be but one member of a beautifully diverse body of Christ. He is insistent upon calling people to a personal relationship with Christ, holding them accountable for their choices, and encouraging a life and faith that engenders personal and communal healing, wholeness, and peace (shalom). Sunday morning worship, he believes, is “the best hour of group therapy” available, and it’s free!
Steve is pleased to be Pastor/Head of Staff of Wayside Church at a time of growth and transformation. A sabbatical summer in 2008 provided new energy and vision for the long term pastorate, as Pastor and People continue to enjoy exploring new ways of worship, community, and mission in service to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
e-mail me: Please use our contact form
