Biographies of Rev. Robinson & Rev. Stevens

About .... The Rev. Dr. Thomas E. Robinson

Thomas E. Robinson grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he was active in local and regional Presbyterian programs, particularly those involving music. After receiving his BA from Erskine College in South Carolina, he ventured to Princeton Theological Seminary for his MDiv and later for his D.Min. After his MDiv graduation, he was invited to a full-time internship, specializing in Christian Education, at Calvary Presbyterian Church in Wyncote, PA, within Philadelphia Presbytery.   He was then called to become Associate Pastor of First Presbyterian Church in East Aurora, New York, near Buffalo.

While in western New York, Tom began a pattern of connecting churches, presbyteries and denominations in collaborative ministry.   He was a founding board member of the Visitors Center ministry at Attica Correctional Facility and served with the Specialized Ministries and Self-Development (SDOP) work of presbytery. Later, in two different presbyteries, Tom's initiatives resulted in establishing wide-ranging Validated Mission programs and planting seeds for two international presbytery partnerships. He also became noted for effectiveness in training church leaders for mission promotion, stewardship, and church growth.

This passion for presbytery-related ministry led to a calling to Donegal Presbytery seven years ago, as Associate Executive Presbyter, specializing in empowering mission, guiding church revitalization and new church development, and being the "Pastor to Pastors." During staff transitions, he served as Acting Executive Presbyter. Tom feels deeply committed to congregational and pastoral renewal. As a board member of the Presbytery Pastoral Care Network, he supports those engaged in care of ministers in our presbytery communities. As a retreat leader for church visioning and planning, he guided elders and ministers to wrestle with the challenges of church growth, evangelism, and spiritual renewal among church leaders in changing times.

Tom's musical interests continue. Thursday nights will find him joyously (or sometimes intensely) preparing the works of Beethoven, Mozart and other classical composers with the Hershey Symphony Orchestra, where he plays String Bass.    He is also an avid bicyclist, who considers his Cannondale bike (made in Bedford, PA!) a "best friend". And he tries to keep up with the busy lives of his children: Cameron, a young adult now living in California; Emily, a future Egyptologist studying at Millersville University; and Anna, who, among her MANY activities, is also a fine young high school cellist!

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About .... The Rev. Dr. Bruce G. Stevens

Bruce Stevens grew up on the edge of the New Jersey Pine Barrens, one of the wonderful parts of that state that was not paved. His service to the church began in Plumsted Presbyterian Church as organist throughout his high school years. Higher education included Virginia Tech (BA), Princeton Theological Seminary (MDiv) and Pittsburgh Theological Seminary (DMin).

The focus of his pastoral work has been congregational transformation, first in the Buckton and Nineveh Presbyterian Churches in Front Royal, Virginia, then in First Presbyterian Church, Hackettstown, New Jersey. In 1992 he was called as Interim Executive Presbyter of Upper Ohio Valley Presbytery and began service in the Synod of the Trinity in 1995 as Unit Associate for Evangelism and Church Development.

His passion for church transformation has involved him in national work as an originator and continuing Steering Committee member of the Church Wide Transformation Training Network, a member of the board of Presbyterian Media Ministries and planner for the first Church Wide New Church Development Conference.

His interests are wide and varied - he has sung with the Front Royal Oratorio Society and the former NOVA Madrigal Singers and was a founder of the Hackettstown Choral Society. He helped establish the Volunteer Emergency Foster Care Program for the state of Virginia, through which his family provided foster care services. He is an accomplished wood carver, an avid hunter and fisherman and a "wannabe" farmer who raises Christmas Trees and weeds on the family farm in West Virginia.

Bruce's spouse is Carolyn Snell Stevens, who is a Presbyterian Elder, and who works as TANF Project Manager for the Pennsylvania Coalition for Domestic Violence. Together they share the lives of five children, Andrea, Eric, Eli, Samuel and Ashley, and two grandsons, Warren and Jackson.

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