Speaker: Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray
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
In the midst of a global pandemic, rising authoritarianism, and uprising, lives hang in the balance and the future of democracy is on the line. In response, Unitarian Universalists are answering the call of our faith, building powerful partnerships to mobilize our communities to #VoteLove and #DefeatHate in the 2020 elections. Join UUA President Susan Frederick-Gray, the UU the Vote team, and a lineup of powerful, prophetic UU voices as we explore the intersections of faith, justice, and democracy in this collective virtual service.
