Our Pastors

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  Rev. Karen and Dr. Greg met on their first day of classes at the Ecumenical Theological Seminary in Detroit, on October 1st, 1999 at 6:00 p.m., and quickly came to realize that God had not only gotten them started on the path to fulfilling the call he had placed on their hearts many years before; he brought soul mates together. They were married on June 16, 2001 and a dream of serving together as a clergy couple began to develop. This dream was realized when they were blessed in 2015 to receive a call to serve as a pastoral couple with the good people at Westminster Presbyterian Church and the Grand Lake Community Chapel. Their family consists of their daughter, Justice, and Toby the Church Dog, a fun-loving and precocious cocker spaniel. When not busy with the work of the church, Rev. Karen and Dr. Greg enjoy boating, camping, being out in God’s creation, exploring Northern Michigan, and taking an occasional cruise.

Rev. Karen Zurakowski grew up in Marysville, MI, a little town on the St. Clair River five miles below the entrance to Lake Huron. She attended Central Michigan University, earning degrees in art education, remedial reading; and language arts; and then teaching for 18 years in the Dryden Community School District and then in the Southgate Community Schools for eight years. She earned the Master of Divinity degree at the Ecumenical Theological Seminary in Detroit. Prior to accepting the call to serve as a co-pastor at Westminster Presbyterian Church, Rev. Karen served at the Raisin Presbyterian Church of Holloway in Britton, MI as a solo pastor for 4-1/2 years.

 

Rev. Dr. Greg Zurakowski was born and raised on the island of Grosse Isle at the Lake Erie end of the Detroit River. He earned Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Michigan where he played with the Michigan Marching Band. He worked in the automotive industry as an engineer and engineering manager for 29 years, taking an early retirement from Ford Motor Company, and concurrently serving in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve for 27 years.  Dr. Greg also holds a Master’s degree in Engineering Management (a combination of an MBA and a Master’s degree in Operations Research & Industrial Engineering). Dr. Greg earned the Master of Divinity degree at the Ecumenical Theological Seminary in Detroit, and then the Doctor of Ministry degree from the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. Before accepting the call as co-pastor to Westminster Presbyterian Church, Dr. Greg served the Belleville Presbyterian Church in Belleville, MI for 5-1/2 years as a solo pastor, and as a volunteer Chaplain with the Van Buren Township Public Safety Department.

Karen and Greg love God and feel so blessed to serve him with the wonderful people in this church community.