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Spirit on Tap – “Many Religions, One God”
October 25, 2022 @ 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Spirit on Tap “Many Religions, One God”
Tuesday, October 25, 2022
7:00 p.m.
DoubleTree Hotel by Hilton
701 Penn Street, Reading, PA 19601
Spirit on Tap’s purpose is to encourage theological discussion, explore alternative views, and stimulate dialogue around issues of faith, spirituality, and current social issues. There is no charge and all are welcome.
w/Stephen Ohnsman, PhD.
I was raised to believe that Jesus was the incarnation of God, so other religions didn’t have the same truth we Christians do. I have grown to believe that while I still believe that Jesus is God in person, other faiths have truth as well. Heaven isn’t just for followers of Jesus; it’s for good people of faith who do God’s work. This gathering will explore some of the ways we are similar, and will look at ways we can overcome the danger of Christian exceptionalism
Steve was born in New York City and raised in Monsey, New York, a suburb northwest of Manhattan. After graduating from Ramapo High School, he attended Wilmington College of Ohio, majoring in Religion and Philosophy and minoring in music, political science, and recreation. Steve was a Resident Assistant and Director and was a member of the wrestling team.
After graduating from Wilmington, Steve attended Drew Theological Seminary in Madison, New Jersey. Steve was a Resident Director and member of the Rugby team. After two years there, he was appointed to serve as a local pastor at Garnerville United Methodist Church in New York.
After being ordained in the Northern New Jersey Conference of the United Methodist Church, Steve was appointed pastor of Andover United Methodist Church in New Jersey. He then moved to Cincinnati, Ohio to serve as pastor of Mt. Auburn United Methodist Church. Steve completed his Doctor of Ministry degree at United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio, focusing on ethics. His doctoral project was titled, “Teaching the Ethics of Jesus in a Cross-Cultural Setting”. Steve also served as Executive Director of Ecumenical Campus Ministries during his four years there.
Steve moved to Reading, Pennsylvania, where he served as chaplain for Albright College. After five years, he transitioned into the United Church of Christ, and has been the Senior Pastor of Calvary United Church of Christ since 1999. Steve also graduated with a Doctor of Philosophy in Leadership from Alvernia University, Reading, PA, in 2105. He has been an adjunct professor at Albright College and Alvernia University. In addition, Steve coaches and mentors clergy and congregations, focusing on the first year in a new call or appointment.
Steve is married to Dr. Christina Ohnsman, and they have two grown children, Matthew and Rachel.
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Spirit on Tap is sponsored in part by the DoubleTree Hotel by Hilton and by individual contributions.