Our Minister, Reverend Mitra Rahnema, is a lifelong Unitarian Universalist who grew up in the Unitarian Universalist Church of Ventura, California. She attended Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies, with an emphasis on biblical interpretation. She remained in Portland for ten years where she began a career in social research at the University of Oregon, working with projects focused on parenting, adolescent transitions, peer relationships, and family development. She continued this social research work at the University of California, Berkeley working on a parent involvement study focused on couple relationships while also attending Starr King School for the Ministry where she earned her Masters of Divinity in 2007.

Her Unitarian Universalist activities have included serving as Vice President of DRUUMM (Diverse and Revolutionary Unitarian Universalist Multicultural Ministries), being a part of the JUUST Change Consultancies of the Unitarian Universalist Association, and chairing the UUWF (Unitarian Universalist Women’s Federation) Justice and Equity Granting Panel. Currently she serves on the UUA’s Commission on Appraisal.

Before settling in Long Beach, Rev. Mitra served congregations in Kansas City, Missouri (Where she was ordained in 2008,) Mission Viejo, California and Grosse Pointe, Michigan.

Rev. Mitra is deeply committed to the deepening and growth of Unitarian Universalism and is humbled and grateful for the tasks of ministry.

Please feel free to contact Rev. Rahnema at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it