Rev. Paulo G. França
Rev. Paulo G. França
Senior Pastor
Rev. Paulo Gustavo França, Senior Pastor of the Winnetka Congregational Church, is a gifted and visionary minister who works collaboratively with staff and lay leaders to re-imagine the church as a space of grace that speaks to the deep spiritual and social longings of the human heart. Paulo’s sermons are characterized by their depth and relevance, often connecting scriptural teachings to present-day issues. He is committed to guiding his congregation through the complexities of modern life with faith-based insights. Additionally, his focus on love, kindness, and self-reflection encourages personal growth and community building. Paulo’s ministry has been defined by his vision of the Church as a house of worship for all people where the divisions that separate human beings in the world vanish before the ineluctable power of God’s all-embracing love.
Paulo is originally from Brazil. He is a graduate of Universidade Federal Fluminense in Niterói, Rio de Janeiro (B.S. in Pharmaceutical Sciences) and the Union Presbyterian Seminary in Richmond VA where he received the Master of Divinity and the Master of Theology with a focus on the intersection of Christianity and democracy from a Latin American perspective.
Paulo was part of the first class of Lilly Fellows at the Fourth Presbyterian Church in Chicago and served churches in Chicago, Cleveland Heights OH, Hartford CT, Plymouth NH, and Acton MA.
In his free time, Paulo loves reading, watching films, going for long walks, traveling, spending time with friends, and visiting family members in Brazil and Europe. He is also a news enthusiast who is perpetually curious about the world. Paulo is an animal lover and is proud to be the human caretaker of an amazing Calico cat named Noëlle. He calls the Chicago area his home.
