Susan Frederick-Gray

Susan Frederick-Gray. She is a prominent Unitarian Universalist minister who served as the ninth president of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA). Elected in 2017, she was the first woman to hold the presidency of the denomination, leading during a period of significant internal reflection and external advocacy. Her tenure was marked by a focus on theological deepening, institutional transformation toward anti-racism, and public witness on issues including immigration, climate justice, and LGBT rights.

Early life and education

Susan Frederick-Gray was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, and grew up in a family with roots in the United Methodist Church. Her early exposure to social justice work through her mother, a community organizer, profoundly shaped her worldview. She pursued her undergraduate studies at Earlham College, a Quaker-affiliated institution in Richmond, Indiana, where she earned a degree in Peace and Global Studies. This academic foundation, combined with experiences in Central America, solidified her commitment to liberation theology and community ministry. She subsequently earned a Master of Divinity from Harvard Divinity School, where she was deeply influenced by professors like Reverend Dr. Peter J. Gomes and engaged with the vibrant theological community of Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Ministry and career

Following her ordination in 2002, Susan Frederick-Gray served as a parish minister at the First Unitarian Church of Rochester in New York. Her ministry there emphasized spiritual development, social action, and congregational growth. In 2008, she was called to serve as the senior minister of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta in Georgia. During her nine-year tenure, she led the congregation through a major capital campaign and building expansion, while also establishing it as a key voice in local advocacy for immigration reform and LGBTQ inclusion. Her leadership in Atlanta included close collaboration with organizations like the Southern Poverty Law Center and the Freedom Center for Social Justice.

Presidency of the Unitarian Universalist Association

Elected in June 2017 at the General Assembly in New Orleans, Susan Frederick-Gray's presidency began amidst a crisis following the resignation of her predecessor, Peter Morales, and controversies over hiring practices and structural racism within the UUA. Her inaugural address called for a "theology of resistance" and a commitment to becoming an "anti-oppressive, anti-racist, multicultural" religious community. Key initiatives during her presidency included the launch of the "Love Resists" campaign, partnering with the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee to support migrants and communities facing oppression. She also oversaw the creation of the Widening the Circle of Concern commission, which produced a landmark report on dismantling white supremacy culture within the denomination. Her administration navigated the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, supporting congregations in virtual ministry, and she represented Unitarian Universalism in interfaith coalitions like Poor People's Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival.

Personal life

Susan Frederick-Gray is married to Brian Frederick-Gray, a software engineer, and they have two children. The family resides in Madison, Wisconsin, having moved there following her presidency. She has spoken openly about the personal challenges of balancing high-profile leadership with family life, and her experiences as a mother have informed her advocacy for family-friendly policies and reproductive justice. Outside of her professional life, she is an avid reader, gardener, and enjoys outdoor activities in the Midwestern United States.

Views and theology

Theologically, Susan Frederick-Gray identifies as a "humanist with a mystic heart," drawing from diverse sources including Process theology, Feminist theology, and Ecotheology. Her preaching and writing often center on themes of prophetic witness, collective liberation, and the transformative power of covenantal community. She is a strong proponent of what she terms "Embodied Theology," emphasizing that faith must be lived out through physical presence and action in struggles for justice. A consistent theological thread in her work is the critique of white supremacy theology and the call for Unitarian Universalism to fully embrace its pluralism by centering the voices and experiences of Black people, Indigenous peoples, and other people of color within the association's life and leadership.

Category:Unitarian Universalist ministers Category:American religious leaders Category:Harvard Divinity School alumni Category:21st-century American women