After Long, Unique Journey, Steve Elderbrock is the New Reverend of Bridgeport Presbyterian Church
By Jeff Toquinto on August 09, 2023
Steve Elderbrock likes what he sees when looking out of the window of the place where he now makes his living on 1 John Calvin Drive.
Behind him are open fields and more than just an occasional wildlife visitor. To his front is a playground where families gather to have fun. And on both sides are residential units of that make up a community he now represents.
If all goes as planned, this will be the view Elderbrock and his wife … will have as he heads into retirement after many stops along his professional journey. Elderbrock, joined by his wife Deb, is the new reverend at the Bridgeport Presbyterian Church as he replaces on a
permanent basis Robin Ray, who left in November of 2021.
permanent basis Robin Ray, who left in November of 2021.Elderbrock grew up in Findlay, Ohio, about an hour south of Toledo and a little more than four and a half hours away from Bridgeport. Bridgeport, as one might imagine, was not on Elderbrock’s radar growing up, which may lead one to wonder how he’s now leading one of the bigger and older churches in the community that began in 1978.
Before going there, the journey to become a reverend is even more complex. In fact, presiding over a congregation was not part of his plans.
“For most of my early years I never had a thought of becoming a pastor. I went to college at Denison University, which is east of Columbus. I was a double major in philosophy and cinema,” said Elderbrock. “I wasn’t looking for a career, but I was seeing what interested me.”
Upon completion, he spent a few years at Yale, dabbling in philosophy and determined he was not called to be in that field. He then utilized the cinema portion of his collegiate studies and headed to Southern California to pursue something on the cinema side of things.
“I quickly found out that was something that also wasn’t for me,” he said.
He left the West Coast and returned to the Buckeye State and went back to school, this time at Bowling Green University. There, he earned his M.A. in history assuming he would be a history professor and teacher.
“During my time at Bowling Green, I was attending the same Presbyterian Church in Findlay I grew up in (First Presbyterian Church of Findlay), which was just a half an hour away,” said Elderbrock. “The pastor, the one there since I was baby, was still there.”
It was the decision to head back to Findlay for church that set the path he has remained on for decades. The pastor suggested he enter the seminary.
“My initial thought was that it was a crazy suggestion. Then, the more I thought about it, it pulled together everything I studied from history and philosophy to theology. Even the theater end of things fit with the ability to speak publicly, which I was good at,” Elderbrock said. “I decided to follow the advice and give it a shot.”
Eventually, Elderbrock ended up in Atlanta at the Candler School of Theology at Emory University. On June 29, 1997, he would be ordained by the Presbyterian Church. Now, roughly a quarter of a century later he finds himself in the heart of West Virginia. Getting here would prove to be another unique journey.
“This is actually my fourth congregation during that time,” he said.
He began his career in rural Minnesota near Rochester where he did visits at visits at the world-famous Mayo Clinic. From there, it was Ottawa, Ohio and – most recently – a stint in the mountains of North Carolina in the Town of Burnsville.
With the church matching pastors and congregations in today’s online world, Elderbrock had put his resume out through the church call 
system. The good news was he got a lot of responses. The better news, he said, one of the responses was Bridgeport.
system. The good news was he got a lot of responses. The better news, he said, one of the responses was Bridgeport.
“My first contact was with Garth Leach, who was head of their search committee. It was a phone conversation and a pleasant one, and I felt good about it,” he said.
Even with that initial encounter being a good one, Elderbrock said West Virginia was not on the radar screen. What put it there was his desire and his wife’s desire to be closer to family. Bridgeport would put them essentially under the five-hour mark from family, such as those back in Findlay, as opposed to the nine-hour mark he faced in North Carolina.
“Eventually, we had some Zoom calls and I started to like the people on the search committee. I came and visited in April,” he said.
It was not the only visit. It was one of four communities looking for his services. Bridgeport, however, would win out.
“I really liked the community, the feel of it, the setting of the church. I liked the parsonage … being right by the park and the old Compton place. It’s just such a beautiful and peaceful setting,” he said. “Along with that, Bridgeport is the best of both worlds. You get the big box stores and the national restaurants right along the highway, yet you’ve got the small town feel with local stores and restaurants. It just works.
“You cannot beat that community feel you get here,” he continued. “We did not, and still don’t, see a downside.”
Elderbrock arrived in the summer to preach and June 4 he was officially voted in as the pastor. His initial day to start in an official capacity was July 1, but started July 9 after getting sick during his move to the Mountain State.
“I found a family doctor to get checked out. Now, I’ve preached several Sundays here,” said Elderbrock. “I’ve preached at a church where founding members are in attendance, which is a first I’m also preaching to a diverse group of long-term families and new, young families. The diverse mix of ages is nice to see.”
Now, the question becomes will he be on the move after a few years. Elderbrock said this may be the final run at the pulpit.
“My previous two churches, I was there more than 10 years. I would love to stay that same amount of time. I’m in my mid-50s, 56, and this may be the place I retire if that is what God has in mind. I want to stay here a long time,” he said. “It takes a new pastor a few years just to get used to a community and a congregation and feel totally at home. I’m getting that feeling quickly here in Bridgeport.”
Elderbrock and his wife Deb were married last October. He now has two adults that he considers family, and they also are new grandparents.
Editor's Note: Top photo shows Reverend Steve Elderbrock at Bridgeport Presbyterian Church, while he's shown at the bottom with his wife Deb. In the second photo, he's shown during a June service at the the church. During the same service, in the third photo, he is shown praying with members of the youth in the congregation.
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