Reverend Doctor Steven A. Tollefson graduated in 1963 from Nampa High School, Nampa, Idaho. He was awarded a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Idaho in 1968.

After graduating from college in January of 1968, Steve served as an Intelligence Officer in the U.S. Army. He spent 1969-70 in South Vietnam as a Combat Intelligence Officer attached to the 11th Armored Calvary Regiment. In 1970, he completed his tour and returned to Nampa where he went into business. While in business, he experienced the call into the ordained ministry.

In 1976, Steve received a Master of Divinity from St. Paul School of Theology, (Methodist) Kansas City, Missouri. In addition to pursuing his studies, Steve served as a youth pastor at College Heights United Methodist Church, Kansas City, and First United Methodist Church of North Kansas City. His last year in school, Steve served on a ministry team that served four rural churches in Missouri.

Upon graduation in 1976, Steve began full time ministry in the Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference. His first appointment was to Heppner UMC, Oregon. In 1979, he was appointed to a new church development in Boise, Idaho. Eight years later, Steve was appointed Senior Pastor of First United Methodist Church in Salem, Oregon.

Concurrently with serving FUMC Salem, Steve was accepted in a doctoral program and received his Doctor of Ministry from San Francisco Theological School, San Anselmo, California in May 1993. His dissertation is entitled “The Power of Inductive Preaching: Addressing Controversial Issues in the Local Church.”

In July of 1995, Steve was appointed as Senior Pastor to Boise First United Methodist Church, “The Cathedral of the Rockies.”

Steve has participated in mission trips to Bolivia, Peru and Far East Russia. In addition, he has led groups to Greece, Turkey, Egypt and Israel in order to deepen and understand our Christian heritage.

Steve is married to the former Vicki Shaw of Gooding, Idaho. Vicki is a top producer realtor for Homeland Realty in Boise. They have four children: Greg, an attorney for Micron in Boise; Ben, creator and director of a Children’s Theater in Los Angeles, California called “The Ohmies” ; Ted an attorney for Holland and Hart in Boise; Wes, who works for Sterling Battery in Boise. Steve and Vicki also have three grandchildren, Nathan, Alek and Sonja, all living in Boise.

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