Our Minister

Rev. Abhi Janamanchi

On April 18th, 1999 the congregation voted the Rev. Abhi Janamanchi as our new minister. Abhi, as he likes to be called, has traveled a long road to us. The initial phase of his journey began with his family. Born in India, he was reared in a liberal Hindu tradition similar to UUism. He graduated from Andhra University with a degree in Physics and pursued graduate studies in Quantum Physics and Electronics. After his marriage to Lalitha in 1991, Abhi accepted a banking position. The couple now have two sons, Abhimanyu, born in November, 1993, and Yashasvi, born in July, 1998.

The second phase of our minister's journey involved services as a lay-minister of a liberal Hindu organization, the Brahmo Samaj. Encouraged by this group and inspired by his experience with them, Abhi took a "leap of faith" and enrolled in Meadville/Lombard Seminary to prepare for full-time ministry in India. Although his ministry was interrupted by various dissapointments and roadblocks, Abhi graduated in 1998 and was ordained at the Unitarian Church of Evanston, Illinois that year.

His preparation included Ministerial Internship in Evanston, Clinical Pastoral Education at Rush-Presbyterian St. Luke's Medical center, and a Field Education Tutorial as the Student Interim Minister at the UU Community Church in Park Forest, Illinois. He then served the First Unitarian Society of Madison, Wisconsin as their Interim Associate Minister.
Send an Email to Rev. Abhi Janamanchi

Abhi's approach to ministry: "A minister is made through holistic participation in the lives of humans, especially with family, friends, and parishioners. For me, ministry is about and through relationships; they are the mentors of human courage, the bearers of joy and forgiveness, and the teachers of life and service."