Steve Sieck

Beginning September 1, 2023, Steve Sieck (he/him) will be serving as intern minister at First Church for the next two years. He is in year two of a three-year M.Div. program at Meadville-Lombard Theological School, which structures ministerial internships to be approximately ten hours a week for two years. He’s excited and grateful to work in a large urban congregation that values spirit, mind, and action in the world.

Steve lives in Appleton with his family of foster and foster-adopted kiddos (his bio-kids have ‘launched’ already) and shares the journey with his wife, Anne, a special education birth-3 specialist.  Originally from Oak Park, IL, Steve attended the University of Chicago, worked as a musician and then music educator in Los Angeles, completed his master and doctoral degrees in choral conducting at University of Illinois, taught music at Emory & Henry College in Virginia for five years, and will step down as a professor of choral conducting at the Lawrence University Conservatory of Music in 2024 after 14 years of teaching.

Over the next two years Revs. Jennifer and Dena will be Steve’s supervisors in his ministerial formation. You might see him preach, or assist in worship, or provide a pastoral care visit, or lead a new-member group, or visit members to talk about stewardship and generosity. These are essential skills for the emerging minister, and Steve is deeply grateful to this community for fostering the growth of future UU ministers. Steve is called to parish ministry to help in the work of collective liberation. Steve looks forward to the journey with First Church!