Pastor Steph Harris Newman

Pastor Steph “Ash” Harris Newman (they/them) was ordained to the ministry of Word and Sacrament in August of 2023. They earned their Master of Divinity from Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota, where they also served as the queer representative on the student council, advocating for inclusion, equity, and faithful leadership within theological education.

Pastor Steph currently serves as pastor of Christ Lutheran Church in Waterford, Michigan, where their ministry is rooted in the conviction that loving one’s neighbor is not abstract, but deeply practical. They are especially passionate about justice-centered ministry, with a heart for addressing food insecurity, mental health support, and queer justice, and for helping congregations live into these commitments with courage and care. 

Before ordination, Ash spent ten years working for Michigan’s largest victim service organization serving LGBTQIA+ individuals, where they helped coordinate and lead some of the state’s largest queer events, including Motor City Pride and the Reel Pride Film Festival. This work continues to shape how they approach pastoral leadership, trauma-informed care, and community advocacy.

They are an avid writer, preacher, teacher, and a wannabe singer-songwriter—proof that God calls people with both gifts and dreams still very much in progress. Pastor Steph regularly teaches on queer issues and helps congregations navigate the Reconciling in Christ (RIC) process, guiding communities toward deeper welcome, honesty, and shared discernment, and serves the wider church through synodical leadership, justice work, and speaking engagements.

Pastor Steph lives in Michigan with their wife of 22 years and their two children, Ethan and Harper. When they talk about their call, they will tell you that while preaching and leadership matter deeply, their favorite work remains pastoral presence—listening, showing up, and making space for God’s grace to meet people exactly where they are.