Stephen was born in 1988 in Cookeville, TN, where his parents met whilst
attending Tennessee Tech. Shortly after, they moved to Dalton, Georgia
where they put down roots and joined First Presbyterian Church, the faith
family that taught Stephen that he was first and foremost a beloved child
of God. It was this community that taught Stephen that it was OK to have
questions and doubts and that nothing he could do could every possibly
separate him from the love of God. In 1995, his sister, Sarah Kate, joined
the family and Stephen began his journey as a life-long musician. Since
then, he has found a love of music and has found this gift particularly
fitting for his call to ministry. Among the instruments that he enjoys are
piano, trumpet, guitar, and handbells. Stephen has always had a love of
singing and congregation song. An avid member of the marching band, Stephen
was the drum major of his high school's marching band. In 2006, Stephen
began his tenure at Presbyterian College in Clinton, SC where he majored in
Religion and minored in History. While attending PC, Stephen continued to
explore his love of music by participating in the Wind Ensemble, Jazz Band,
Jazz Combo, Jazz Trio, as well as playing in the PC Handbell ensemble and
playing mandolin and banjo PC's very own bluegrass/rock group, Hosegrass,
of which Stephen was a founding member (Hosegrass even released their own
CD!). In 2010, Stephen moved from Clinton to Atlanta to attend Columbia
Theological Seminary to pursue God's call on his life to be a pastor in the
PC(USA). During this time, Stephen worked at Trinity Presbyterian Church,
Silver Creek Presbyterian Church, Central Presbyterian Church, and
Westminster Presbyterian Church. For three years, Stephen served as the
Choir Director of Columbia Theological Seminary's choir and also served as
the Interim Music Director at Westminster Presbyterian Church. In 2014,
Stephen graduated from Columbia with a Masters of Divinity and a Masters of
Arts in Practical Theology with an emphasis in liturgy, music, and worship.
In July of 2014, Stephen was installed an ordained as Teaching Elder at
Shelter Island Presbyterian Church in Shelter Island, NY. Later that year,
Stephen married the love of his life, Tricia, and they share their home on
Shelter Island with their Golden Doodle, Elsie, and their calico cat,
Audrey. In addition to his work with the people who are Shelter Island
Presbyterian Church, Stephen currently serves as a commission from Long
Island Presbytery to the Synod of the Northeast and, beginning in January
of 2016, will moderate the Synod's missions team.
