Congregation Calls Its New Pastor

See Sermon Video - June 8, 2008

Joyfully and unanimously, the congregation voted on Sunday, June 8, to accept the recommendation of its Pastor Nominating Committee that The Reverend Dr. Stephen D. McConnell be called as our Pastor and Head of Staff. Dr. McConnell will begin his ministry with us on September 14, 2008.

Thanks were extended to the Pastor Nominating Committee - Linda Getzen - Chair, Moira Dunn, Joan Geyer, Rick James, Paul Mercer, Bruce Steves, Bob Van Derzee, Dale Vollrath, and Barbara Zeller, for their tireless and faithful work. (See Welcome Brochure)

Steve McConnell’s Background and Family
I come from a long line of Presbyterian ministers including my great-grandfather, grandfather, father, uncle and two brothers. I was born in New Castle, Pennsylvania, but did most of my growing up in suburban Detroit. I attended Westminster College in New Wilmington, PA and there met my wife, Amanda and received God’s call to be a pastor. I attended Princeton Theological Seminary and graduated in 1984.

I served the Melrose Carmel Presbyterian Church in suburban Philadelphia in my first call. The gracious people of that church taught me all the things I did not learn growing up in the manse. I owe them a great deal. Our first and only child, Brittany, was born while we lived there. We served in Melrose Park for 5 years.

I have been serving the Liberty Corner Presbyterian Church in Liberty Corner, New Jersey for the past 18 years. It has been a wonderful marriage of pastor and congregation. I have been given the opportunity to serve the larger church on the Committee on Ministry, the Committee on Preparation for Ministry, the Elizabeth Presbytery’s Peace, Unity and Purity Task Force, the New Wilmington Missionary Conference, the Massanetta Springs Bible Conference, the Wee Kirk Retreat in New England, and a commissioner to General Assembly.

I received my Doctor of Letters from the Caspersen School of Graduate Studies at Drew University with a focus on C.S. Lewis studies. I’ll talk to anyone who wants to hear about C.S. Lewis. I enjoy reading and running and watching my favorite sports teams – the St. Louis Cardinals, the Michigan Wolverines and the New York Giants – bring home the victory. Our daughter Brittany is a rising Junior at Elizabethtown College in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania and my wife Amanda is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker working presently as a therapist in her own private practice.

I am very much looking forward to serving with the people of the Church of the Palms. It is an exciting congregation that is eager to serve the people of Sarasota and beyond in the name of Christ. Humbly I ask for God’s Spirit and mercy to bless this partnership in the gospel.

Steve writes:
“How thrilled I am to be invited to serve as your Senior Pastor! I am humbled at God’s call through your Pastor Nominating Committee and I look forward to serving the risen Lord with you. The Church of the Palms is ministering in some very important ways and you are a great beacon of encouragement to the larger Presbyterian family. I am excited to work with you as we serve the greater Sarasota area by forming disciples of Jesus Christ. I love your mission statement that echoes again and again how open you are to God’s work and God’s people. I certainly bring to you an open heart and mind to what God plans to do with us in the time ahead. Along with my wife Amanda and our daughter Brittany, we look forward to moving south and beginning a new chapter of life and ministry with you.”