About

Disclaimer: “Georgia Preach: The Life of a Presbyterian Pastor in the Peach State” is solely musings, views and beliefs of Rev. Andy Acton. Thoughts, ideas and opinions expressed on this blog (with the exception of sermons) does not directly represent the PC(USA) church or denomination of which I serve as an ordained minister of the Word and Sacrament.

The Rev. Andy Acton is an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA), a father of two and lives in the Atlanta area.

A former newspaper journalist, Andy has been blogging since 2004, often reflecting on life, theology, ministry, and culture. He received a BA in journalism from Auburn University in 1998, an MDiv from Columbia Theological Seminary in 2005 and was ordained shortly thereafter.

His first call to parish ministry was at Colesville Presbyterian in Silver Spring, MD., where he served an associate pastor for Christian Education, Youth and Mission from July 2005- July 2008. He then served for more than 10 years as the associate pastor for Youth, Mission & Outreach and Communications at Pleasant Hill Presbyterian Church in Duluth, GA., (metro Atlanta), from August 2008 to December 2018.

In March 2019, he began his third call as pastor/head of staff of Emory Presbyterian Church in Atlanta-Decatur.  Andy is also a member of the board of Presbyterians for a Better Georgia; a member of the advisory council for A Sanctified Art ; a member of the board for UKirk Atlanta ; and a member of the Worship Committee and Nominating Committee of the Presbytery of Greater Atlanta.

Andy is an artist and published writer. He has written youth curriculum for the Reel to Real series, published by The United Methodist Publishing House (1999-2002); devotionals for These Days published by Westminster John Knox Press; and d365.org produced by Passport; PLGRM Magazine (2013, interview with Rachel Held Evans) and wrote a post for the “40 Days of Food Justice” project on patheos.com.

Andy also has been involved in youth ministry in the denomination of the PC(USA): keynoter for High School youth retreats in Alabama and Mississippi, a member of planning teams for the Massanetta Springs Middle School Youth Conference and The Montreat Middle School Youth Conference.  In the summer of 2015, he was the keynoter for Weeks V and VI of the Montreat Youth Conference 

His passions for preaching, teaching, social justice, and exploring the intersection of faith & pop culture drives his call to serve God and God’s people with energy, intelligence, imagination and love.