Steve Kuhl

Although I grew up in a loving home with two wonderful parents, we were not faithful churchgoers. My grandparents were so rigid in their teachings (Lutheran and Catholic) that my parents lapsed once they were independent. So only on special occasions, such as Easter, would we attend church as a family. Growing up in Indianapolis, I attended Sunday school with some neighbors who had children my age. To be honest, I was not taken with the teachings of the Southern Baptists, so I stopped going.

Throughout my education, as a Biology major, I was constantly confronted with the tension between science and religion that too many people in both camps perceive. For example, as a Ph.D. microbiologist, conflict about the theory of evolution was a continuing problem when I taught Introductory Biology at major universities around the country. Inevitably, some students would object to this required unit and demonstrate their disapproval, making this unit a challenge. For me, creation is a miracle, by whatever mechanisms God uses to accomplish it!

When I married Claire right after getting my doctorate, I began to have greater exposure to religion. I attended church with her occasionally, and with her parents when we visited them, but still not regularly. This began to change while we lived in Fort Wayne, when life circumstances conspired to lead us to a tiny Nazarene church, led by an interim pastor who also had a science background.

The faith journey that started there continued to grow when we moved to Greenwood and attended the Nazarene church. Then we visited Westminster, at Richard Whiting’s invitation, and learned “How to Spell Presbyterian” when Bill Jacobs taught an Inquirers’ class. Here for the first time, I found a faith that was compatible with my scientific beliefs, and a pastor and congregation who were extremely friendly and welcoming. As a result, I was baptized in 2005, and Claire and I have been members here ever since. I am also blessed to have business partners who have a strong faith, and are committed to maintaining the highest ethical standards in our alternative energy business.

While a member of this congregation, God has been continually challenging me to become more involved in activities. These have included narrating the cantata, caroling with the youth at Christmas time, and most recently coordinating the Hodges Good News Club.  I am sure in the future, other activities will be thrust onto me, since my journey is a relatively recent one and is just beginning.