Meet our new Interim
Minister: Rev. Stephen Adams
The Reverend Stephen C.
Adams joins Archwood as our interim pastor on November 1st, and will
conduct his first Worship service on Sunday, Nov. 2nd. His position
with us will be at 20 hours/week.
Ordained in the Presbyterian Church in
1989, he has since served communities in the Western Reserve--most recently as
an Associate Minister at
Plymouth
Church
, which has also been in an interim period --and
as a Parish Associate at the
Old
Stone
Church
. In his pastoral roles, Rev. Adams has addressed
Open and Affirming initiatives, Bible study and educational opportunities for
adults and service-outreach programs for youth.
He served as a Chaplain for the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, and
spiritual counseling at the
Ireland
Cancer
Center
and Hospice of the
Western Reserve
. He is a member of the Professional Advisory
Board at The Gathering Place, where he leads a monthly Spirituality Group.
Rev. Adams is also a Healing Touch Practitioner, and has used this gift
both in his ministry and his Spiritual Counseling He has lectured nationally and
internationally on the topics of Spiritual Care, Grief and Loss, Cultural
Diversity and Healing Touch.
His self-discernment of his many gifts would have him focus, at Archwood, on
worship and pastoral care, within the broader meaning of pastoral care as
support of, and interaction with, a congregation to promote healing and
wholeness-congregationally and individually. He has visited Archwood and has
participated in our Worship as a guest minister during David Bahr’s tenure.
He speaks well and movingly of Archwood’s “awesome” spirit and
looks forward to walking with us in our interim journey.
As a musician and trained vocalist he has also assisted in music worship
in his pastoral assignments, and sings with Park Synagogue as well as the North
Coast Men’s Chorus and the Coastliners. He
is, as well, an artist who enjoys creating with stained glass and painting.
He lives in Cleveland Hts with his partner, H. Bruce Blonder.
Mr. Blonder works with housing development and investments, and also
enjoys the hands on work of renovating their home.
Please extend a welcome to Reverend Adams and Mr. Blonder as they come to
know our faith community.
