Andrew Pakula
Encyclopedia
Rev. Dr. Andrew Pakula is a Unitarian
minister. He was elected in 2009 to serve on the executive committee
of the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches
, the umbrella body for British Unitarians. He is the minister of two neighbouring congregations in north London
: Unity, on Upper Street in the heart of Islington
; and Newington Green Unitarian Church
, on the village green
of that name
about two kilometres north.
in New York. He holds a doctorate in biology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
and a Master of Business Administration
from the MIT Sloan School of Management
, and used these in his careers in biotechnology management and then in business development. He began his studies for the Unitarian Universalist ministry at Andover Newton Theological School
, when he was living in Boston, Massachusetts with his wife and son. He moved to England and completed these studies at Unitarian College, Manchester, whilst also serving from October 2006 as student minister at New Unity, the single name for the two congregations mentioned above. In January 2010 he was inducted as full minister of both churches; Labour Party
Members of Parliament Diane Abbott
and Emily Thornberry
were at the service, held at Newington Green Unitarian Church.
, have invited Evan Davis, the economist and BBC presenter, to speak on media and dishonesty; psychotherapist Susie Orbach
, to describe "Frankenstein's Bodies Today"; and literary critic
Terry Eagleton
to analyse "The New Atheism and the War on Terror".
His first years at New Unity, while still officially a trainee, coincided with two important dates for the church at Newington Green, namely its tercentenary,
and the 250th anniversary of the birth of Mary Wollstonecraft
, probably its most famous congregant. For each of these occasions, he attached a banner to the railings outside the building (proclaiming first "300 years of dissent", and then "birthplace of feminism", in a nod to the formative years that Wollstonecraft spent worshipping there) and organised a series of celebratory or commemorative events
Pakula's sermon in honour of the Wollstonecraft anniversary stressed her role as a prophet. This excerpt serves as a flavour of the emphasis he gives to social action:
Pakula has expressed bold viewpoints and was described—sympathetically—in the local press as "controversial" when he did a reverse collection plate, giving his own money away to those attending a service.
He also supported the unanimous decision of church members when they voted to stop performing wedding ceremonies until the law recognised equal parity for same sex relationships. Human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell
has called on the church to conduct a gay marriage in defiance of the law. Pakula and his congregation hosted a meeting in 2010 at which Tatchell gave a speech about moving the legal case forward for equalisation and fair treatment for all relationships.
Unitarian Universalism
Unitarian Universalism is a religion characterized by support for a "free and responsible search for truth and meaning". Unitarian Universalists do not share a creed; rather, they are unified by their shared search for spiritual growth and by the understanding that an individual's theology is a...
minister. He was elected in 2009 to serve on the executive committee
Executive Committee
Executive Committee may refer to:* The Executive Committee of the Privy Council of Northern Ireland, a government body in the United Kingdom 1921–1972* The Northern Ireland Executive, a government body in the United Kingdom...
of the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches
General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches
The General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches is the umbrella organisation for Unitarian, Free Christian and other liberal religious congregations in the United Kingdom. It was formed in 1928, with denominational roots going back to the Great Ejection of 1662...
, the umbrella body for British Unitarians. He is the minister of two neighbouring congregations in north London
North London
North London is the northern part of London, England. It is an imprecise description and the area it covers is defined differently for a range of purposes. Common to these definitions is that it includes districts located north of the River Thames and is used in comparison with South...
: Unity, on Upper Street in the heart of Islington
Islington
Islington is a neighbourhood in Greater London, England and forms the central district of the London Borough of Islington. It is a district of Inner London, spanning from Islington High Street to Highbury Fields, encompassing the area around the busy Upper Street...
; and Newington Green Unitarian Church
Newington Green Unitarian Church
Newington Green Unitarian Church in north London is one of England's oldest Unitarian churches. It has had strong ties to political radicalism for over 300 years, and is London's oldest Nonconformist place of worship still in use...
, on the village green
Village green
A village green is a common open area which is a part of a settlement. Traditionally, such an area was often common grass land at the centre of a small agricultural settlement, used for grazing and sometimes for community events...
of that name
Newington Green
Newington Green is an open space in north London which straddles the border between Islington and Hackney. It gives its name to the surrounding area, roughly bounded by Ball's Pond Road to the south, Petherton Road to the west, the southern section of Stoke Newington with Green Lanes-Matthias Road...
about two kilometres north.
Early life and extended education
Pakula grew up within a secular Jewish familyAmerican Jews
American Jews, also known as Jewish Americans, are American citizens of the Jewish faith or Jewish ethnicity. The Jewish community in the United States is composed predominantly of Ashkenazi Jews who emigrated from Central and Eastern Europe, and their U.S.-born descendants...
in New York. He holds a doctorate in biology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
and a Master of Business Administration
Master of Business Administration
The Master of Business Administration is a :master's degree in business administration, which attracts people from a wide range of academic disciplines. The MBA designation originated in the United States, emerging from the late 19th century as the country industrialized and companies sought out...
from the MIT Sloan School of Management
MIT Sloan School of Management
The MIT Sloan School of Management is the business school of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, in Cambridge, Massachusetts....
, and used these in his careers in biotechnology management and then in business development. He began his studies for the Unitarian Universalist ministry at Andover Newton Theological School
Andover Newton Theological School
Andover Newton Theological School is a graduate school and seminary located in Newton, Massachusetts. It is America's oldest graduate seminary and the nation's first graduate institution of any kind...
, when he was living in Boston, Massachusetts with his wife and son. He moved to England and completed these studies at Unitarian College, Manchester, whilst also serving from October 2006 as student minister at New Unity, the single name for the two congregations mentioned above. In January 2010 he was inducted as full minister of both churches; Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
Members of Parliament Diane Abbott
Diane Abbott
Diane Julie Abbott is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Hackney North and Stoke Newington since 1987, when she became the first black woman to be elected to the House of Commons...
and Emily Thornberry
Emily Thornberry
Emily Anne Thornberry is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Islington South and Finsbury since 2005.-Before Parliament:...
were at the service, held at Newington Green Unitarian Church.
Career as a minister
Under his leadership, the church has hosted a series of annual lectures by prominent public figures, to address "a topical or important aspect of liberty, reason and ethics". These public talks, named after Pakula's internationally prominent eighteenth century predecessor Richard PriceRichard Price
Richard Price was a British moral philosopher and preacher in the tradition of English Dissenters, and a political pamphleteer, active in radical, republican, and liberal causes such as the American Revolution. He fostered connections between a large number of people, including writers of the...
, have invited Evan Davis, the economist and BBC presenter, to speak on media and dishonesty; psychotherapist Susie Orbach
Susie Orbach
Susie Orbach is a psychotherapist, psychoanalyst, writer, and social critic from London, UK.-Background:Orbach was born in London, in 1946, and was brought up in Chalk Farm, north London, the child of Jewish parents, British MP Maurice Orbach and an American mother...
, to describe "Frankenstein's Bodies Today"; and literary critic
Literary criticism
Literary criticism is the study, evaluation, and interpretation of literature. Modern literary criticism is often informed by literary theory, which is the philosophical discussion of its methods and goals...
Terry Eagleton
Terry Eagleton
Terence Francis Eagleton FBA is a British literary theorist and critic, who is regarded as one of Britain's most influential living literary critics...
to analyse "The New Atheism and the War on Terror".
His first years at New Unity, while still officially a trainee, coincided with two important dates for the church at Newington Green, namely its tercentenary,
and the 250th anniversary of the birth of Mary Wollstonecraft
Mary Wollstonecraft
Mary Wollstonecraft was an eighteenth-century British writer, philosopher, and advocate of women's rights. During her brief career, she wrote novels, treatises, a travel narrative, a history of the French Revolution, a conduct book, and a children's book...
, probably its most famous congregant. For each of these occasions, he attached a banner to the railings outside the building (proclaiming first "300 years of dissent", and then "birthplace of feminism", in a nod to the formative years that Wollstonecraft spent worshipping there) and organised a series of celebratory or commemorative events
Pakula's sermon in honour of the Wollstonecraft anniversary stressed her role as a prophet. This excerpt serves as a flavour of the emphasis he gives to social action:
Mary Wollstonecraft was a unique individual – brilliant and strong. She was one who would not be swept along in stream of the common beliefs and understandings of her time. Hers was a keener sight – a vision that saw beyond what most people take for granted. She saw, contrary to the assumptions of her time, that women were the equals of men. Her bold stance – a position that proved to be many years ahead of her time – was met with broad condemnation. Today, we recognise that Mary Wollstonecraft spoke with the voice of prophesy. We honour her for her courage and for the gifts she has given to future generations of women and men.
Pakula has expressed bold viewpoints and was described—sympathetically—in the local press as "controversial" when he did a reverse collection plate, giving his own money away to those attending a service.
He also supported the unanimous decision of church members when they voted to stop performing wedding ceremonies until the law recognised equal parity for same sex relationships. Human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell
Peter Tatchell
Peter Gary Tatchell is an Australian-born British political campaigner best known for his work with LGBT social movements...
has called on the church to conduct a gay marriage in defiance of the law. Pakula and his congregation hosted a meeting in 2010 at which Tatchell gave a speech about moving the legal case forward for equalisation and fair treatment for all relationships.