We have the joy of announcing the Rev. Steve Putka as the new Senior Pastor of Hilliard United Methodist Church.
Pastor Steve is an ordained Elder in the West Ohio Conference of The United Methodist Church, and he brings with him a rich and varied background in ministry. He has served in local churches, non-profit organizations, and higher-education settings, offering leadership in organizational development, program creation, public relations, fundraising, and student growth and development. Steve is licensure-eligible and experienced as a professional therapist, with gifts in spiritual care related to crisis, trauma, and mental illness.
Steve has a deep love for building relationships, inspiring generosity, and sharing the gospel through thoughtful preaching and public speaking. Over the years, he and his family were founding members of Church for All People, and have served at William Street, Church of the Messiah, Amlin, and most recently Grace Church in Dayton.
We are also blessed to welcome his wife, Wendy, an appointed deaconess whose ministry focuses on supporting and managing Social Security Benefits for individuals with disabilities, serving as Executive Director of Payee Plus. Together Steve and Wendy bring a heart for justice, compassion, and community. Their family has also served children through the United Methodist Children’s Home in Worthington, reflecting a long-standing commitment to nurturing young people.
They have three adult children. Their elder son Chad was married this summer and serves as a music teacher at The Moses Brown School in Providence, RI. Their daughter Grace lives in the Boston area with her husband and son, working as a chemist for a major pharma firm. Their son Sam, an engineer with Team Fishel, lives in Hilliard with his wife and daughter. They are expecting a son this spring, and their daughter will be attending HUMC preschool in the fall.
Today, we celebrate that God has called them through appointment to join us here at Hilliard UMC — where we proclaim that God loves you no matter what, and where we strive as disciples of Jesus Christ, to be a brave and inclusive community. A place where you matter, where love in action matters, and where authentic relationships transform the world.
We look forward to Steve and Wendy joining us on May 1.