Rev. Fred Small's Biography

Frederick Emerson Small was the parish minister of First Church Unitarian, Littleton, Massachusetts from 1999 to August 2008. After graduating from Yale (BA, American Studies) and the University of Michigan (JD, MS Natural Resources), Fred worked as a staff attorney for the Conservation Law Foundation (CLF). Fred left CLF to tour internationally as a folksinger and songwriter, releasing seven albums over two decades (http://rounder.com/). Fred earned his MDiv degree from Harvard in 1999.

Parish Work

During Fred’s tenure at Littleton, the congregation
Moved to two Sunday services

Twice participated in Future Search, a community reflection and visioning workshop

Participated in Raising the Roof and Welcoming Diversity and Prejudice Reduction workshops

Become a Welcoming Congregation

Adopted a mission statement, a covenant of right relations, and a sexual misconduct and abuse policy

Adopted a new structure for supporting social justice work

Inaugurated small group ministry, lay pastoral ministry, ministerial internship and a lay-led adult enrichment program

Social Justice Work

In March, 2007, Fred was one of the lead organizers of the Interfaith Walk for Climate Rescue from Northampton to Boston, Massachusetts. In July, 2007, Grist Magazine named Fred one of 15 Green Religious Leaders worldwide. He is co-chair of Religious Witness for the Earth (http://religiouswitness.org), a national interfaith environmental network.

Fred received the Religious Leadership Award from the Religious Coalition for the Freedom to Marry in 2006. In 2003, “Fred announced from the pulpit that he would refuse to sign marriage licenses for heterosexual couples until same-sex couples enjoyed their equal marriage rights in Massachusetts. As he ended his sermon, the congregation rose in a standing ovation” (from his award citation).

Personal and Family Life

Fred’s interests include meditation, environmental issues, running, bicycling, kayaking, movies, books and cooking. He is married to Julie Emerson Wormser, an environmental advocate currently earning her MPA at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. In 2004, they adopted their daughter, Lucy Dao Lin Emerson, now four years old.