Rev. Dr. Tony Larsen

The Rev. Dr. Tony Larsen has been the minister at Olympia Brown Unitarian Universalist Church in Racine, Wisconsin since 1975. He was born in South San Francisco, California in 1949; studied to be a Catholic priest for ten years; and was ordained a UU minister in 1975.

Dr. Larsen received his B.A. in philosophy from Maryknoll College (Glen Ellyn, IL); M.A. in Theology from Maryknoll School of Theology (Ossining, NY); and Doctorate of Ministry from Meadville/Lombard Theological School (Chicago, Illinois).

He has written a book entitled Trust Yourself! You Have the Power (Impact Publishers, 1979), authored a UUA curriculum called "A Catechism for Unitarian Universalists" (1988), contributed a chapter on Unitarian Universalist evangelism in Salted With Fire (Skinner House, 1995), and a chapter on financial giving in Everyday Spiritual Practice (Skinner House, 1999).

During Larsen's 30-year tenure at Olympia Brown UU Church, the congregation has instituted Small Group Ministries, a new Program Council, and Interweave and Green Sanctuary groups; and membership and church attendance have grown significantly, necessitating two services and two Sunday School sessions. Furthermore, under Larsen's leadership, a new Unitarian Universalist congregation was established in Kenosha in 1985.

A nationally respected Unitarian Universalist minister, Tony carried the UU banner at the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago in 1993, has served on the Central Midwest District Religious Education Committee; as president of the CMwD UUMA Chapter, and has conducted workshops and performed musically at UU General Assemblies and district events, including many "UU Revivals."

Reflecting Unitarian Universalism's commitment to social action, Tony has served on the boards of the Women's Resource Center, CROP Hunger Hike, Southeastern Wisconsin AIDS Project, Racine Clergy Association, Racine Chapter of NOW (National Organization for Women), Racine Jail Ministry, Clergy and Laity United for America, Planned Parenthood, the George Bray Community Center, Alliance for the Mentally Ill, Racine Interfaith Coalition, Downtown Cooperative Parish, and textbook adoption committees of the Racine Unified School District. He also writes a monthly column, "Parson to Person" for The Unifier , Olympia Brown UU Church's monthly newsletter.

Click to read some sermons by Rev. Dr. Tony Larsen