Reverend Nate would love to hear from you.  If you'd like to meet in person, please click here to review his calendar and then send him an email to propose a time to meet during his open office hours.  If you have additional questions call his cell phone at 215-701-9072.

The Reverend Nathan C. Walker was dually ordained by the Fourth Universalist Society and the Unitarian Church of Staten Island in New York City.  In May 2007, Reverend Nate was called by the members of our congregation to serve as the Spiritual Leader and Executive Director of the First Unitarian Church in Philadelphia . He is in his ninth year of serving congregations in various capacities. 

Reverend Nate is the co-editor of "Whose God Rules a Theolegal Nation?" to be published in the spring 2009.  He received his Master of Education and Master of Arts degrees from Columbia University with a focus on higher education finance and administration.  He also graduated from Union Theological Seminary with a Master of Divinity degree.  As a higher education professional he worked as an Advisor at New York University and taught community college in Northern Nevada and in South Lake Tahoe.  His leadership has been featured by AirAmerica, Mother Jones, the New York Times and the Chronicle of Higher Education. 

Click here to download Rev. Nate's Curriculum Vitae.

Personal 

Nate was born in Munich, Germany on December 31, 1975 to Mary Coffey who was singing and dancing in the Alps after seeing The Sound of Music (no wonder Nate turned out to be gay!).  Nate was 1 year old when he convinced his mom to return to the Sierras where she married her true love Steve Walker.  Nate was four when his brother Kenny was born and was upset when his parents did not take his advice in naming his brother "Grover."  Through years of therapy he got over it. 

Mary & Steve spent most Sundays riding their horses in the Sierras near Lake Tahoe.  Nate suspects that they are the founders of the long-lost Equestrian religion.  The photo to the right is Nate in 3rd grade guarding the family's alfalfa farm in Fallon, Nevada.  This is where he learned the art of talking to himself, which comes in handy now that he lives in Center City Philadelphia. 

He treasures his friends from Carson High School and is grateful to his many mentors and loving family, all of whom openly accepted him when he came out of the closet at the age of 15.  At that time his Grandmother introduced him to the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Northern Nevada because she knew they were welcoming and affirming.  Over the years, Nate has traveled over 16 countries and 36 U.S states and loves spending time with his partner.

Professional Experience

Nate is thrilled to serve as the Settled Minister to the First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia.  He previously served the Unitarian Church of Staten island, NY; the Children's National Medical Center in Washington DC; the Community Unitarian Church in White Plains, NY; and the Fourth Universalist Society in the City of New York; and the Fourth Presbyterian Church of South Boston.  As an administrator and educator, Nate has served as a fellowship program coordinator at Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons and for five years taught at Western Nevada Community College and later at Lake Tahoe Community College.  In addition, Nate was an Advisor for New York University and an Artist in Resident for the Nevada Arts Council.  He is also a contributing author for the Dictionary of Unitarian Universalist Biography and currently serves on the Board of the Murray Grove Association. 

Education & Certification

Nate recently completed is Masters of Education (Ed.M.) from Columbia University, where he also received a Masters of Arts degree.  Nate received a Master of Divinity degree from Union Theological Seminary, New York.  In addition to his graduate training, Nate received a B.F.A. from Emerson College, Boston; he trained with the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco; and he is certified by the State of Massachusetts to teach PreK-12 dance, communications, and theatre arts.  Nate also holds a Supervisory Certificate from Columbia University's Human Resources.

Guest Speaking/Preaching

Nate was invited to present his graduate research at a staff briefing in the United State Senate as well as at five national conferences on American higher education.  As a preacher, Nate has led worship for over a dozen congregations including presenting at events hosted by the Unitarian Universalist United Nations Office, The Metropolitan District of New York, and the Unitarian Universalist Ministers Association Metro Chapter.  In addition, Nate has been a guest speaker for the Nevada Arts Council's Arts All the Way state conference and Summer Arts Institute at the University of Nevada Reno, the Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, Manhattan Country School, the Brearley School, and he is a reoccurring guest lecturer at Columbia University.  Nate is featured as a prominent New Yorker on the Empire Pride Agenda website. 

Media & Awards

Nate's leadership has been featured by the New York Times, Mother Jones, AirAmerica, the Village Voice, the Chronicle of Higher Education, Inside Higher Ed, the Nevada Appeal and the Reno Gazette-Journal; as well as over college newspapers including the Yale Daily, the Columbia Spectator, the Daily Princetonian.  Nate is also featured in Marquis Who'sWho in America 2005 and the Who'sWho of Emerging Leaders 2006.  Last year he was awarded the Susan M. Jackson Scholarship by the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations.  During tenure as Interim Director of Religious Education, the Fourth Universalist Society was the recipient of the “The O. Eugene Pickett Award for outstanding contributions to the Growth of Unitarian Universalism; the Religious Education program increased by 225%.