We’re all connected: an interdependent whole. Therefore, says Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray, “covenant is our religious response to our fundamental interdependence.” We make promises about how to be together, and how to be in the world. We also fall short of honoring those promises, inviting us to repair and strengthen the strands of community. The choice to mend broken strands of the web is an act of faithfulness. We hope you will join us for this (pre-recorded) service exploring and celebrating hallmarks of our Unitarian Universalist theology.
The Rev. Dr. Susan Frederick-Gray began her six-year term as president of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) in June 2017. As president of the Association, she is responsible for administering staff and programs that serve its more than 1,000 member congregations. She also acts as principal spokesperson and minister-at-large for the UUA. Susan brings a strong focus on mission and strategic planning to her leadership at the UUA as it works to dismantle systems of white supremacy.
As president, Susan has emphasized that this is no time for a casual faith and no time to go it alone. She has represented the UUA in the 2017 Charlottesville protests against white nationalist violence, has worked in conjunction with the Poor Peoples Campaign on issues of poverty, witnessed at the US-Mexico border for immigrant justice, and partnered with local advocates to expand voting rights in Florida. In addition to her regular column in UU World, Susan has written for Vice, Sojourners and numerous local papers.
Prior to her election, she served as Lead Minister of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Phoenix, Arizona where she was a national voice for immigrant rights. Susan played a critical role in the long-term campaign to end the constitutional violations of Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio.
Susan is a life-long Unitarian Universalist with roots at Eliot Chapel in St. Louis, Missouri. During her time at Harvard Divinity School, she served as Student Minster of Religious Education at the Winchester Unitarian Society (1991-2001). Susan also served as Intern Minister and Sabbatical Minister at the First UU Church of Nashville, TN (2001-2003) and served for five years as Minister of the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Youngstown, OH (2003-2008). Prior to ministry, Susan worked briefly in the field of genetic sequencing following her Bachelor of Science in Molecular Biology from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.
Susan is married to the Rev. Brian Frederick-Gray, a minister with dual fellowship with the United Church of Christ (UCC) and the Christian Church Disciples of Christ (DOC). They live in Cambridge, Massachusetts with their teenage son and family dog
For information about attending in person, links to Zoom login info, Sunday’s Order of Service, Online Giving and more click here –> linktr.ee/uulacrosse