Dr. McConnell's Biography

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

Steve served the Melrose Carmel Presbyterian Church in suburban Philadelphia in his 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." Steve and Amanda's first and only child, Brittany, was born while they lived there. Steve served in Melrose Park for 5 years.

Steve then served the Liberty Corner Presbyterian Church in Liberty Corner, New Jersey for 18 years and was blessed to serve with a remarkable church family there.  “It was a great marriage of pastor and congregation and I will forever be in the debt of so many of the saints there.”  Steve also served 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.

Steve received his Doctor of Letters from the Caspersen School of Graduate Studies at Drew University with a focus on C.S. Lewis studies. He'll talk to anyone who wants to hear about C.S. Lewis. He enjoys reading and running and watching his favorite sports teams – the St. Louis Cardinals, the Michigan Wolverines and the New York Giants – bring home the victory.

Steve loves 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.