Steven slauBaugh
Director of Faith Formation

Steven Slaubaugh, who has been attending the Cathedral for the past few years with his wife, Samatha, and now their daughter, Elizabeth, joined the Cathedral Staff in 2020 as our Director of Faith Formation and Community Outreach. Steven has worked in a variety of ministry settings in Michiana, since receiving his M.Div. from Princeton Theological Seminary in 2017. His current position at the Cathedral includes working with volunteers to offer educational and formation offerings from children to adults - from Sunday mornings to weekly book studies and occasional community gathering events. Part of what Steven enjoys most is working with religious leaders, educators, and community leaders to promote awareness that leads to faith-based action. In addition to his work at the Cathedral, Steven is the Director of Programs and Operation at Interfaith Action in Southwest Michigan.

Steven also holds a B.A. in Theology and B.A. in Spanish from the University of Sioux Falls. He and his partner Samantha are the parents of two wonderful kids.

Education

Master of Divinity
Princeton Theological Seminary

Bachelor of Arts in Theology
University of Sioux Falls

Bachelor of Arts in Spanish
University of Sioux Falls

Q&A with Steven

Hometown:

I’ve always struggled with the ‘hometown’ question. Half of my childhood took place in North Dakota, half took place in Florida, and my adult life has been spent in South Dakota, New Jersey, and Indiana. So, to adopt a cliche, home is where my family is.

Who does your immediate family consist of? (i.e. spouse, kids, pets, etc.)

I’m married to my wonderful partner, Samantha, and we have two daughters.

What faith community do you attend?

I attend, and work at, the Cathedral of Saint James in South Bend, IN.

Favorite sports team?

I grew up near the Tampa Bay Rays baseball team, and have fond memories of attending games as a kid. To this day, I’ve been an ardent fan of the team - who happened to make, but lost, the World Series in 2020 (maybe, hopefully, we’ll win one someday?).

What was your first job?

When I was 14 or 15 years old, I wanted to make some money on the side, so I briefly worked at a local gas station in a small town in North Dakota where I lived.

What’s your favorite TV series?

That is a difficult question - there are so many good ones out there. Among my most recent favorites, I would say I’ve enjoyed Schitt’s Creek, Midnight Mass, Parks and Rec, and the Great British Bake-Off.

Your most memorable experience?

Attending Princeton Theological Seminary was a very memorable experience for me - three years learning with and from some very bright people. The experience that sticks out to me at this time, though, is a trip to Israel I took in 2019. At the time, my partner Samantha was taking a graduate course on Israel and Liturgy at Notre Dame, and part of the course was going to Israel. We asked if it would be alright if I tagged along, and, thankfully, they agreed to it. My experience of Christianity before that trip was mostly Western, and mostly in the younger traditions of Christianity (I grew up Baptist). On the trip, I had the opportunity to attend liturgies from a variety of non-Western, Orthodox traditions - Palestinian Orthodox, Greek Orthodox, Armenian Orthodox, and Coptic Orthodox. The experience of witnessing the worship of some of the most ancient Christian traditions gave me a better understanding of my own faith, and challenged me to broaden my vision of what the Church is today - work that is, I might add, still unfinished!

What’s your favorite book?

Choosing a favorite book, like choosing a favorite TV show, feels impossible, but I’ll go ahead and say Silence by Shusaku Endo. 

What are your hobbies?

I love being outside, reading books, a good bonfire, baking, and watching baseball. But most of all, I love spending time with family.