Steve Harsh is an ordained pastor in the West Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church. He served six churches in Ohio from 1969-1995 and from 1995-2007 was on the staff of the Interprofessional Commission at Ohio State University, an education program that teaches and promotes collaboration among clergy and other helping professionals. Steve was the director of that program from 2001 until he retired in 2007. In retirement Steve has served as a part-time associate pastor at Jerome UMC (2007-14) and currently is a regular part of the preaching team at Northwest UMC in Columbus.
Steve is a life-long Buckeye, growing up in Wapakoneta, Ohio and earning two degrees from Ohio State University, a B.A. in Philosophy and a Ph.D. in Rhetoric and Public Speaking. He graduated with honors with an M.Div. from the Methodist Theological School in Ohio in 1971. In 2010 Steve was honored by MTSO with the John and Ruth Mount Alumni Award for service to the school.
Steve taught Homiletics (preaching) as an adjunct faculty member for 20 years at MTSO. His classes included “Introduction to the Theory and Practice of Preaching” and a course on Narrative and Prophetic preaching. He has also taught Religion and Human Nature at Otterbein University and public speaking at the OSU Marion campus as an adjunct professor. In 2011 Steve published Building Peace from the Inside Out: Stories for Peace Seekers and Peacemakers, a collection of faith-based stories and plays.
He and his wife, Diana Hoffman, live near Columbus, Ohio. Diana is a retired teacher and owner of her own business, Active Healthy Lifestyles. Steve and Diana have 3 grown children and 7 wonderful grandchildren, Steve’s hobbies and interests include drama, reading, sports, and enjoying his grandchildren.
Peacefully Harsh 
Steve, I just found this blog because I JUST went to the church website for the first time. Go figure! This is amazing reading and I of course sent the link to my hubby and kids. It will take me a month of Sundays to catch up in the archives but I look forward to it. The laundry will have to wait…………..Debbie Trego
thanks Deb, I have had trouble finding time to add any new posts lately; so you will have time to catch up. Steve
Steve,
I was in Vietnam with Kim and her husband this past January. Here is the 70 minute clip we shot visiting with Kim and her relatives in the North and the South.
https://vimeo.com/84891080 Vietnam – Kim Phuc 2014
Enjoy!
Vernon Thiede
Steve, I just saw your page and enjoyed reading some of your articles very much!
Hi, this message is for Steven harsh . My name is Michael Hudson, I belong to the Messiah United Methodist Church in Westerville. Our church holds Forums each month conducted by layity on a variety of topics. I am passionate about saving our planet. I would like to know if you know of any churches in Central Ohio that have a focus on Green Christianity. In my 60 years in the church I’ve never heard a word from the pulpit about saving our planet (AKA Gods creation)
If you can point me to an appropriate church, or offer constructive advice I would appreciate it.
Blessings, Mike
Michael7822@sbcglobal.net
Hi Michael, the best program I know Rob is an ecological program up at the Methodist theological school in Delaware. And I think they are working with some local churches. I just sent a note to the president of the seminary asking him for information that I can pass on to you. I will do that as soon as I hear back. Thanks for your interest in this vital area. Blessings
Steve, I am resonating with your thoughts for 3/16/22. When I think of my grandchildren and what will be left it is not a happy place to be.
Thank you. Please know that about five minutes after I posted that piece I took it back down and have any more hopeful closing to it which you may find helpful also.
Hello Steve
I have a question about your fiddler on the roof post made on August 22, 2019, and that is- where did you find the lyrics from the opening title song? I have not found them anywhere on the internet but i do remember singing them in chorus class when i was in school.
I don’t remember that far back, but I found this sight after a bit of searching tonight. http://www.guntheranderson.com/v/data/fiddlero.htm
Hello Steve,
My husband has always liked you and you were our minister at our wedding. He asked me to reach out to you as he wants to be baptized and would like to talk to you about it, if you are willing and can find the time.
Hi Belinda, I just saw your message. We were out of the country for a couple of weeks and just got back. Send me some contact information and I will get in touch.
John Jaycox 614-917-3040
Steve, I thought I saved your number, but alas. Please call me. Today is 10/5/23. It’s regarding John. It’s close. He’s at Riverside ICU. He’s having trouble surrendering.
Hello Steve! My husband was a UMC pastor in Ohio for many years. In retirement he is back to pastoring a local congregation. I was surfing the internet looking for some Advent reading ideas and found your blog. Would you consider giving permission to use some of your readings for this Advent season? I would like to do them as skits. We are a rural congregation of around 50 people in Wadsworth, OH. Thank you for considering. – Joyce Lawrence
Yes you may. Thank you for asking. I am honored and wish you a blessed advent and Christmas season.
Hello Steve. Randy Whitcomb here. I am the husband of Michelle Gentile. I didn’t know how to contact you but found this. Michelle had her Birth into Eternity Thursday June 20th at 8:55 A.M. I am sure she would have wanted you to know. She was 70 years young.
Randy, thank you so much for letting me know. I am sorry for the sad news for your loss. But I am also thankful that she is free from the pain of this life. Peace and blessings to you.
Hello Rev. Harsh – my dad, Dave Harsh, was also a UMC paster (WI conference, retired 2001) and passed away a few weeks ago; in the outpouring of support from his old churches at least 8 folks have said one of their favorite memories was him singing “If I were a rich man” – these were from at least 3 different churches and spanned from kids to older adults. So we will definitely be singing that at his memorial in a week. I’ve found his sermon notes for that one in his files, and it was actually titled “The Gospel According to Tevye”! I was just googling around to see if it had been recorded anywhere and found your blog post here. Great minds must think alike – at least those from similar eras (he was active 1963-2001 and kept on with mission work after). One other reference on google that I spotted was on “Job as Tevye” – dad did his D.Min. thesis on Job so I also found that interesting. Anyway, from one Harsh to another, I hope you are well. Brent Harsh – https://www.informedchoicefunerals.com/obituaries/david-harsh
Hello, Pastor Harsh,
I hope this finds you well. I am not sure this will reach you – I am not adept at these phone communications.
I have been asked to deliver a prayer at my wife’s upcoming 50th class reunion for the Danville High School class of ‘75 in PA.
I came across the prayer that you delivered at your 50th class reunion, and I was touched by its clear and inviting elements. It was a beautiful message for your classmates!
I am asking your permission to use this message as a framework for my own prayer/message for my wife’s reunion. I thank you for your consideration of this request, and, once again, thank you for your thoughtful message!
Keith
Keith, thank you for your kind words. I would be honored to have you use that prayer in anyway that is helpful to you. Blessings and prayers for a wonderful reunion. Steve,.
Thank you for your acknowledgement.
With your help and the Spirit, I should be in good hands to deliver this prayer for this reunion.
God bless you and your family.
Keith