Reverend Nathan C. Walker is honored to serve as the minister of the First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia, where he is responsible for an $896,000 operating budget. Since his arrival in 2007 the church have ended each fiscal year with a surplus; welcomed over 168 new members; and raised over $240,000 to repoint the masonry to prevent water from entering the historic building.

          During his tenure at 1stU, Nate's preaching has gained national attention, including delivering the John Murray Distinguished Lecture; and joining with former UUA President John Buehrens to participate in the Minns Lectures; speaking on church/state relations at the National Constitution Center; and recently giving the installation sermon for Rev. Meg Riley and the Church of the Larger Fellowship.

           Last fall UU World magazine featured his proposal to create a code of ethics for Monsanto, the world’s largest producer of genetically modified seeds. Reverend Nate’s national activism on issues of gay rights, ethical eating, and finance reform has been featured by the New York Times, Mother Jones, AirAmerica, and other national media venues.

           As a scholar in church/state relations, he is currently completing an interdisciplinary doctorate in Law, Education and Religion at Columbia University. His dissertation is about whether it is constitutional for teachers to exercise their religious freedom by wearing religious garb in the public classroom, or whether as public officials they give up those constitutional rights so as not to portray the school as establishing a state religion.

           Nate explores similar themes as co-editor of the forthcoming book, “Whose God Rules?” with the foreword by former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair. Additional contributors include Alan Dershowitz, Martha Nussbaum, Kent Greenawalt, William Schultz, and other scholars. Macmillan Press will publish it on December 6, 2011 with endorsements by Cornel West and the late Forrest Church. For more details visit www.WhoseGodRules.com.

           With his interest in religion and politics, he is currently serving as President of UUPLAN – the Unitarian Universalist Pennsylvania Legislative Advocacy Network, a coalition of over 6,000 Unitarian Universalists.

Download Nate's Curriculum Vitae