Rev. Harold Steindam, Senior Minister

     Rev. Harold Steindam was called to serve Westerville Community United Church of Christ in January of 1991.  During his time as Senior Minister, WCUCC has grown significantly in membership and worship attendance, in mission work and giving, and in educational and fellowship programming.  He has also led the congregation through two building campaigns, more than tripling worship and other usable space. 

    In his 34th year of ministry, Rev. Steindam previously served United Church of Christ congregations in Upper Sandusky, Madison, and New Philadelphia, Ohio.  He has been an active member of the Rotary Club of Westerville since moving to the community, and has served as a Chaplain for the Westerville Police Department since 2000.  He is very active in the Westerville Area Ministerial Association, volunteered as clergy director for Westerville Area Resource Ministries for eight years, and currently serves on the board of The Westerville Fund.    Beyond Westerville, he has served in numerous capacities with the Association, Conference and National Settings of the United Church of Christ.  Through the years, Rev. Steindam has published four books through The Pilgrim Press (three of them sermons for children), and writes often for other publications.

    Known for his personal and conversational style of preaching, Rev. Steindam seeks to bring the meaning of Biblical texts to relevance in our lives today.  His children's sermons are engaging and remembered by the children--and by the grown-up's who "listen in."

   Rev. Steindam says, "I entered the ministry because I love people and want to share with them what is best--and that is the love of God as revealed to us through Jesus.  I want ours to be a church that lives up to its name of ‘Community,' welcoming everyone and truly making a difference in Westerville and far beyond.  Our congregation is called to share the ever-widening circle of Christ's love."

   Rev. Steindam has been married since 1973 to Jenny Caldwell Steindam, who is also an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ, and who is a Licensed Clinical Counselor.  They are the parents of two grown sons and a daughter who is in college.    

Send an email to Pastor Harold.

Rev. Dr. Sigrid Rother, Associate Pastor

Rev. Dr. Sigrid Rother was called to Westerville Community UCC in 2002.

A native of Germany, Sigrid was ordained in 1993 in the Evangelische Kirche im Rheinland, a partner church of the United Church of Christ. She immigrated to the States in 1996 after having served with the Methodist Church in Southern Africa (1994-1996). She was granted ministerial standing in the United Church of Christ while serving as Interim Associate Minister with First UCC in Muskegon, MI.

In addition to ten years of study in Germany and one year in England, Sigrid received a Th. M. in 1997 from Western Theological Seminary in Holland, MI, and received her Doctor in Ministry in Preaching in 2003 from Chicago Theological Seminary.  Sigrid has published for a journal in Christian Education and is writing sermons for a monthly preaching journal.

Pastor Sigrid's focus in ministry is teaching and preaching. As a teenager she couldn't decide if she wanted to become a teacher or a preacher.  Now she combines both in her ministries.

Sigrid believes Christian Education is spreading God's love to all, no matter how young or how old.  Her aim is to provide an environment where children, youth and adults experience and learn about their Christian faith.  

As Director of Christian Education, Sigrid oversees the wide variety of education opportunities available at WCUCC.  Every infant born to a church member receives a baby Bible, because the home is the foundation of the Christian faith.  Toddlers and youth in Sunday School are introduced to Bible stories, activity groups, and music.  Adults can participate in parenting classes and a variety of classes and seminars.  Family fellowship is nurtured throughout the year at camps and retreats.

Pastor Sigrid's  preaching style varies, but her goal is always the same: to connect daily life with Bible-based faith.

A devoted mother and wife, Sigrid has been married to Thomas Cochrane since 1996.  They have two children: Peter, age 6, and Anna, age 3.

Send an email to Pastor Sigrid.

Michael Randolph, Youth Director

Mr. Michael A.J. Randolph has been a member of WCUCC since 1992.  During that that time he has served in a number of different roles from being a member and later chair of the Christian Education Board, Sunday School and VBA Teacher, Lay Reader, softball player and the infamous "Bunny from the Hood"  for the church's Easter Egg hunt.   Most people know Michael or "AJ" today for his work with the Westerville Area CROP Walk, and some of his legendary skits.

MAJR was born and raised in the Bronx, New York, where as a child he attended Catholic school and the Catholic Church.  Michael served as an altar boy and at that early age felt a calling to ministry, even at one point looking into going to seminary to become a Catholic Priest.   While choosing not to go that route, Michael's desire to serve God and grow in faith led him to join "Here's Life New York" as an associate staff member from 1981 to 1987.   Michael ministered to body and soul at that time working also as a paramedic with the NYC-EMS. 

Michael did his undergraduate studies at Miami University, in Oxford, Ohio, getting a BA in Communications in 1981 and returned to Ohio in 1991 to work on his masters in Journalism at The Ohio State University, graduating in 1992. Michael also received his Non-Profit Management Certification from Columbus State Community College in 2004 and was part of the first Lay Ministry Certification Class in the Central Southeast Association of the UCC, completing his training in 2007.  He has worked as journalist with public radio station WOSU and was the radio station manager at WCBE.  Michael has taught communications and journalism classes at Wilberforce University, Central Ohio Technical College and OSU.   He has been a coach with the YMCA and Worthington Youth Boosters and Kilbourne Middle School in Worthington, has taught CPR with the American Red Cross and served on the boards of the Ohio ACLU and Material Assistance Providers(MAP).

Known for his warm smile, quirky and gregarious sense of humor, Michael has never shied away from a challenge and none has been greater than being the parent of two high spirited children, Erika, 17, and Michael ‘Alex', 14.

Send an email to Michael.