Our Minister

Andrew Pakula was appointed in October 2006 to provide ministry to the Newington Green and Islington Unitarian congregations. Andrew is an avid believer in the power of the diverse liberal spiritual community to educate, illuminate, inspire, and transform.

Andrew began preparation for the Unitarian ministry after a career in the biotechnology industry. He is a native of the United States, where he

earned a doctorate in Biology and a Masters degree in business – both at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Prior to his position as Student Pastor with the Islington and Newington Green congregations, Andrew served as a Support Minister at the Unitarian Congregation of Mendon and Uxbridge in Massachusetts. He also had extensive and varied experience as a lay leader in his home congregation in Lexington, Massachusetts, where he worked with youth, small groups, in worship, congregational growth, and in governance. He also served his local district as chair of the district Growth Team and as a leader of congregational workshops and retreats.

‘The sacred is all around us all the time’ says Andrew in describing his spiritual outlook. ‘The work of the spiritual life involves awakening to that reality and treasuring the divine sparks in everything and especially in each person.’ Andrew grew up in a Jewish family and Judaism continues to be an important part of his spiritual inspiration. He also draws on many other world religious traditions and on secular sources – especially poetry, which he describes as ‘some of the best sacred writing there is.’

© 2007 Islington and Newington Green Unitarians For comments or enquiries