In Memory of Edward A. Frost (March 2 1937 – April 9, 2022)

Rev. Dr. Edward A. Frost died on April 9, 2022, at the age of 85.

Edward was born on March 2, 1937, in Brockton, MA to Charles Albert Frost and Irene Louise Frost. Shortly thereafter, his parents returned to England, his father’s birthplace, where he lived and attended elementary school until 1949. His family were members of the Church of England. However, after coming to America Edward’s religious life became lax because of the adjustment to a new life and association with new friends in a predominantly Roman Catholic city. It was not until he was approached by the Methodist Pastor and invited to join the youth fellowship of his church that he resumed religious nurture.

In 1961, Edward graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English from Barrington College, R.I. While attending Barrington College, on the weekends he served as an Assistant to the Minister of a Methodist Church. He served in this position for two years, superintending the church school, preaching, and assisting in visitation. This experience confirmed his choice of ministry. He then applied and was accepted by Bangor Theological Seminary in Maine, graduating in 1964 with his Bachelor of Divinity. His studies at Bangor Seminary broadened his philosophy and theology causing him to reexamine his choice of affiliation. He could no longer rationalize or justify the doctrines of the traditional Christian church and made the decision to seek a change in denominational affiliation. He decided to enter the ministry of the UUA; his choice sparked out of a desire to be associated with a growing, vital religion that made itself relevant to the lives of modern men. He hoped that with Unitarian Universalism he could remain intellectually honest, and this change would make a difference in the meaning and purpose of his life. In 1967, Edward received a Master of Sacred Theology degree from Boston University, MA, and subsequently graduated with his Doctorate in Ministry from Meadville Lombard Theological School, IL (1974).

Rev. Dr. Frost was ordained on June 5, 1964, by the All-Souls Universalist Church, Oakland, ME. In 1966, he was called to the Unitarian Church of Marlborough & Hudson, MA, where he ministered until 1968. Thereafter, he served at the First Parish in Waltham, MA (1968-1976) and at the UU Congregation of Princeton, NJ (1976-1989). In 1989, he was installed as a senior minister at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta (UUCA), GA. Rev. Dr. Frost offered a long and stable ministry contributing his unique sixteen years to the thriving life of the UUCA. He enabled the congregation’s health, liveliness, and vitality with different programs, procedures, and resources, such as the Lay Ministry program, the Hope School project, and the conflict management program. His sermons promoted a high quality of interaction among people with profound mutual understanding. He retired in 2005 and upon his retirement, the UUCA honored him as their minister emeritus.

Rev. Dr. Frost was an esteemed spiritual thinker, writer, and speaker. His gifts enlightened, challenged, and drew many seekers to Unitarian Universalism. He worked tirelessly on behalf of liberal religion and built spiritual communities. His sermons emphasized deeper personal relationships and his preaching revealed love and concern for all people. In addition to his forty-one years of dedicated service to the UU ministry, Rev. Dr. Frost served the denomination as President and co-founder of the UU Counseling Service (1976-1982); as a member of the Northeast Inter-district UUA board (1971-1973); and as a President of the Mass. Bay District, UUA. He was a Ministerial Settlement Representative, for the Metro NY District (1986), and a committee member for the UUA Independent Study Program (1986). He was also national vice-chairman of the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee for Northern New England.

He provided his services as a Chair of Religious Ministries Comm, Princeton, NJ (1977-1981); as a President of Princeton Clergy Association (1978-1980; 1983-1985), and as a member of the Coalition for Nuclear Disarmament (1980). In his spare time, he enjoyed gardening (flowers, especially roses), wood-crafting, furniture building, and hiking. He also had several of his writings published, some of which include: “The Administrator,” and “The Contexts of Counseling,” in the Journal of the Liberal Ministry.

Edward is survived by his daughter Pamela A. Frost, and her sons: Bart and Nicholas; daughter Tammy F. Frost, her husband Scott, and their son Jack; and daughter Jennifer A. Frost, and her sons: Samuel, Alexander, and Timothy.

The celebration of life took place at 10 am on Saturday, June 4, 2022, at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Princeton, 50 Cherry Hill Road, Princeton, NJ 08540.

In honor of Rev. Dr. Frost’s love for his dogs, you may make a donation to your favorite local organization that cares for dogs. Donations can also be made to the Unitarian Service Pension Society; c/o Rev. Sheldon Bennett; 43 Merrymount Road Unit 11, Quincy, MA 02169.

Notes of condolences can be sent to Pamela A. Frost, 388 Harrier Dr. Monroe Township, NJ 08831.