Rev. Dr. Davida Foy Crabtree ‘72

Davida Foy Crabtree served in a wide array of ministries before her retirement. From campus ministry to a community based women’s center, from parish ministry to 23 years of Conference Ministry in the United Church of Christ, she has served as pastor, advocate for justice and peace, and ecumenical and denominational leader. She has received numerous awards: The Antoinette Brown Award for outstanding women in ministry, the “Somos Uno” Award from the East LA neighborhood organization, President’s Award from the CT Coalition Against Domestic Violence, and another from the CT Coalition Against the Death Penalty.  From 1996 to 2010, she was the Conference Minister of the Connecticut Conference of the UCC and in 2007 was the host for the 50th General Synod of the UCC in Hartford.

During her 11 years as Senior Minister of Colchester (CT) Federated Church, she led the congregation to explore the meaning of their lives as ministers in their workplaces, homes, neighborhoods and community. From that mutual exploration and her D.Min. studies, Alban Institute published her book The Empowering Church (1989).  She considers her 13 years of service as a Trustee of ANTS to be a high point of her volunteer opportunities. Since retirement she has served as Senior Consultant to the Officers of the UCC, as interim and acting Conference Minister in two Conferences, and as interim development officer for ANTS twice.

She received the Spirit of the Hill Award in 2015.