Steve Was Born in Pasadena, California Since There Was No Hospital in Azusa, Where The

Stephen Craig Brewer

Biographical Information

Born in Pasadena, California, Steve was the third of four children. His father was a furniture merchant, his mother a stay-at-home mom. He moved to Salinas, California when he was in the second grade and lived there through his junior high school years. Steve grew up in the Presbyterian Church and was very active in college ministry and drama in his youth.

He and his brother Gary traveled across the United States in their early teens, visiting most of the contiguous states. Steve joined VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) in 1967, serving in Alsea and Corvallis, Oregon doing community organization. After winning a folk-singing contest while in college, Steve enjoyed some success as a professional folksinger in the late 60’s and early 70’s.

After meeting charming, lovely and vivacious Christine LeBarre in church, they were married in 1970.Soon afterward, with Steve’s brother Gary and sister-in-law Linda, Steve and Chrissi bought a cattle ranch in northern Idaho to “get back to the land.” The Brewers built a log cabin where he and Chrissi lived when their first child, Sarah, was born.

In 1977 Steve graduated from the University of Idaho and enrolled at San Francisco Theological Seminary where he received a Master of Divinity degree in 1980. His first call was to the Presbyterian Church in Ogden, Utah. Theirsecond daughter, Elizabeth, was born during this time. His second call was to achurch in San Bernardino, California, where he served eleven years as Associate Pastor. In 1992 he received a call as Solo Pastorof Trinity Church in Santa Cruz, California.

In 2000, Steve completed a three-year certification program in the art of Spiritual Direction. During the same three year period he completed his Doctor of Ministry. His dissertation is entitled “Bricks and Mortar Theology; the Spirituality of Congregations using Church Property in Public Ways.”

Steve was called to First Presbyterian Church, Austin, Texas as Head of Staff in March of 2001, followed by a call to the Presbyterian Church of Jackson Hole, Wyoming. After special training in interim ministry Steve served churches in Carmel, California and Hollister, California before coming to First Presbyterian Church of Medford as Interim Head of Staff.