Sue Steiner

Title: Sue Clemmer Steiner fonds

Dates of creation: 1973-2018

Physical description: 40 cm of textual records ; 1 audio compact disc

Biographical sketch: Susan Clemmer (1947-2019) was born in Souderton, Pennsylvania to Lester M. and Martha (Dertstine) Clemmer. After earning a B.A. in English at Goshen College, she immigrated to Kitchener, Ontario where she married Sam Steiner, a college friend and Vietnam-era draft resister, in 1969.

After 10 years as a book buyer for Provident Bookstores, she began studies at Waterloo Lutheran Seminary and later at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary where she earned her MDiv in 1982. She then took a position as youth minister for Mennonite Conference of Ontario and Quebec (MCOQ), the first of many pastoral positions she held in Mennonite Church Eastern Canada (MCEC).

Among the first female Mennonite pastors in Canada, Sue Steiner was ordained in 1987 at St. Jacobs Mennonite Church where she served until 1996, following which she became lead pastor at Waterloo North (1998-2005). In addition, she had numerous interim pastoral assignments. After retirement she was part of the preaching team at Rockway Mennonite Church.

Sue wrote extensively for the Mennonite community including three books, Joining the army that sheds no blood, Basic beliefs, and Flowing with the river: soundings from my life and ministry, as well as numerous workshops and articles in church magazines. Wider community involvements included chair of the Christian Formation Council for Mennonite Church Canada (2003-2008), founding partner and Managing Associate of Associates Resourcing the Church (2006-2011) and Coordinator of Mennonite Spiritual Directors of Ontario (2006-2009). She served as a mentor to new pastors and a resource person for congregations conducing pastoral reviews and searches. Training in spiritual formation led to her private practice in spiritual direction, which also found expression in her blog A Nourished Spirit.

Custodial history: Donated to the Archives in 2018 by Sue Clemmer Steiner

Scope and content: Files kept by Sue Steiner regarding her career as a pastor, and publications by Sue Steiner.

Notes: Further materials related to Sue Steiner may be found by searching the Archives.
Original archival description created 2020 by Laureen Harder-Gissing.
Biographical sketch adapted from: Bechtel, Muriel. "Steiner, Susan Clemmer (1947-2019)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. March 2020.

File list:

1. Curriculum vitae and fonds inventory lists prepared by Sue Steiner, 2010
2. Sermons and talks, 1987-2017
3. Congregations, 1985-2007
   Note: This file consists of materials gathered by Sue Steiner regarding congregations she pastored, candidated at, or joined. Congregations included are: Rockway Mennonite Church, Wilmot Mennonite Church, St. Jacobs Mennonite Church (including ordination order of service), Nith Valley Mennonite Church, Waterloo North Mennonite Church, Riverdale Mennonite Church.
4. Selected involvements
   1. Mennonite Spiritual Directors of Eastern Canada (MSDEC), 2011-2018
   2. Seniors retreats at Hidden Acres Mennonite Camp & Retreat Centre, 2015-2018
   3. Masters of Theological Studies (MTS) integration seminar, 1999-2014
   4. Writings on homosexuality and the church, 1982-2006
5. "Sue's story: reflection on ordination before ordination." / Sue Steiner et al. - 1986. - audio compact disc (37 min.) : .cda. - Additional notes accompany CD.
6. Publications
   Note: Includes Sunday School curricula (children, youth, adult), books, articles and re-published blog posts by Sue Steiner. An inventory list is included in file 1.
7. Obituary and memorial service, 2019