As part of our ongoing series to introduce the church to our leadership team at National City Christian Church Foundation, we are thrilled to introduce Rev. Steven Gower. Rev. Gower serves on the National City Christian Church Foundation Board. Rev. Gower is the Senior Pastor of Olmsted Community Church (in Olmsted Falls, Ohio) and previously served as the Pastor of First Christian Church Massillon and Brunswick First Christian Church.
In addition to his work as a congregational pastor, Steven currently serves as the Moderator Elect for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada and served as chair of the Mission Finance Committee of the General Board for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) until 2025. He also has served on the Administrative Committee of the General Board and the Finance Committee of the Administrative Committee, bringing with him a deep understanding of organizational finance and policy. He currently serves on the National City Christian Church Foundation Board and the Living Water Association’s Committee on Ministry. He has served on the Commission on Ministry for the Christian Church in Ohio, as the chair of the Vision Committee for the Regional Board of the Christian Church in Ohio, on the Christian Church in Ohio’s Congregational Renewal Team, and on local nonprofit boards. Steven and his wife, Tara, have 4 children ages 1, 6, 10, and 11. Steven loves to coach Soccer and Basketball for his kids’ youth leagues.
What are you reading or listening to right now?
I never read one book at a time. I’m normally in 2-3 books. The best thing for this is a good e-reader and the Libby app. Whenever someone recommends a new book to me or they say a book “changed” them in some way, I put it on my list in the Libby app. Most books through the app can be checked out through my local library both as an audiobook and e-book format. So, I can read and listen to them as needed and be able to go both back and forth. Sometimes this is really good to get the author’s voice and tone in my mind as I’m reading.
I recently finished Malcolm Gladwell’s Revenge of the Tipping Point, Josh Gad’s In Gad We Trust, and Shane Claiborne’s Rethinking Life: Embracing the Sacredness of Every Person and now I’m enjoying a reread of Aldo Leopold’s collection of brilliant observations on nature A Sand County Almanac, Wendell Berry’s Hannah Coulter, and John Lewis’ reflections Carry On.
Musically, I try to keep up on my children’s tastes (in addition to my own) so my playlist has been filled with Benson Boone, AJR, Taylor Swift, Our Last Night, and Run the Jewels.
What has brought you hope in the last year?
My last year has been filled with hope and new opportunities. Our family finalized the adoption of our youngest daughter this May! We’ve been a foster family for over a decade and now our journey has concluded with our second adoption and fourth child (my wife and I feel pretty settled as a family of 6). The process of being a foster family and moving through two adoptions has been filled with many unexpected setbacks, sleepless nights, stressful visits, and many negative conversations; however, for every bad thing there were many more good moments, great joys of new activities with the children, so many people who would pitch in and help out, the love and support of two church communities through the process, and the encouragement from so many others who have fostered, adopted, or wanted to give well wishes and support. I have hope in our community because I’ve seen how people show up when one is need!
I find hope in the work of our denomination and still can’t believe I have been elected to the moderator team. I pray daily for our church and the hope we might bring into the world. I find hope in the number of young people and families who are searching for meaningful faith-filled communities where people grow and advocate together. Look at this past GA and the number of young adults who spoke passionately about a church fueled by the good news of Christ advocating for justice in our world and doing the work of the Gospel! I find hope in these words of Christ, “whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these,” (John 14:12). I find hope that our church believes in Christ and will do the greater works of the Kin-dom.
Why is the work of the Foundation important?
The Foundation exists to ensure that our denomination has a Meeting House in the Capital. Maintaining this space for worship, faith formation, ministry, and especially advocacy on behalf of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, is of the utmost importance now, maybe more than ever. Often as a Pastor I hear people complain about how the church or faith has become “too political.” My response has become, “stop letting others politicize your faith.” I grew up in a movement with the mantra, “Where the scriptures speak, we speak!” and scriptures speak often about immigrants, healthcare, food security, and many other topics that today have become labeled “political.” Therefore, we need a space to be the beacon on the hill that is spreading Christ’s light into our world and speaking faithfulness to our political and governing institutions. We cannot sit by silently and allow for Christ followers to be defined by white christian nationalists who present the cross wrapped in an American flag.
The foundation is ensuring that the grounds at National City Christian Church stay a place and voice that advocates for and with those who are marginalized by our institutions, political or otherwise. Our duty is to maintain and improve the grounds for the work of the whole church. There is more than a “church” at 5 Thomas Circle. Our staff, driven by the vision of our wonderful pastor Rev. Stephanie Kendell, oversees an entire complex that includes housing the missions and outreach of National City Christian Church, local nonprofits, and collaborative partners who all do good work in the community. The board also approved the creation of the Kathleen Swihart Office of Denominational Collaboration, an office space that will increase collaboration with our General Church and National City. All of this is important, as the church has a broader voice and more power to do good when we work together.
The Foundation is grateful for Rev. Gower and the gifts that he brings to the wider board through pastoral and executive leadership experience.