On Sunday, March 29th, our congregation enthusiastically called Rev. Dr. Larry R. Kalajainen to be our new senior minister, beginning July 1st. Rev. Kalajainen is succeeding the Rev. Harry Taylor, who served as interim senior minister during the search for a settled pastor, after the retirement of Rev. Phillip S. Washburn in 2007.

Rev. Kalajainen comes to our church with a wealth of experience. He has been an active and ordained minister for 37 years. Most recently, he served as senior minister of the First Parish Church in Brunswick, Maine. He also has served as the senior pastor at the American Church in Paris, one of the oldest and largest international congregations in the world, as well as churches in New Jersey, and as a mission pastor of a Chinese congregation in Malaysia.

Rev. Kalajainen graduated magna cum laude from the University of Pittsburgh, and holds a Master of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary, a master of theology from Princeton Theological Seminary, and a Ph.D. in the New Testament and Early Christianity from Drew University.

Rev. Kalajainen is an author of four books on Christian faith and journeys. His interests include fine-art photography, reading, writing, walking, and cheese making.

Rev. Larry Kalajainen is married to Carol, who teaches English as a Second Language. They have two adult daughters and one grandson.