Rev. Dr. Dorothy May Emerson * 
November 20, 1943 – May 13, 2019

Rev. Dr. Dorothy Emerson [at right in photo] was a semi-retired Unitarian Universalist minister up until her untimely death in May of 2019. She and her spouse Donna co-founded Rainbow Solutions to promote socially responsible investing as an important tool for social change and to offer consulting services to support those who want their lifestyles and business practices, as well as their money, to reflect their core values. After Donna and associates launched Rainbow Investment Solutions, the focus of Rainbow Solutions was on Dorothy’s ministry and publications.

We are pleased to present on this website information on her major published works and where to purchase them. As time goes on, we'll add more of Dorothy's writings and likely some photos.

Dorothy gave public lectures and led workshops and worship services. She also performed weddings, funerals and memorial services, child dedications, and a variety of other special rituals. She specialized in interfaith ceremonies, personally designed for participants' needs and values.

Dorothy edited and published feature articles and books. She also helped create programs to help adults grow spiritually and gain insight into ways to implement their values in daily life.

In addition to her ministry, Dorothy was active in UU and community organizations:

UURMaPA, Unitarian Universalist Retired Ministers and Partners and their UU Rainbow History project
UU Women and Religion
UU Class Conversations
NAACP, Mystic Valley Area Branch
Zonta Club of Medford, an affiliate of Zonta International
Sustainable Business Network of Massachusetts
Medford Chamber of Commerce
WAND, Women’s Action for New Directions

In her free time, she enjoyed time with family and friends, traveling, reading mysteries by women, and exploring nature’s beauty.

Books

  • Sea Change 1960s the unfinished agenda of the 1960s, Matrika Press, 2018
  • Called to Community: New Directions in Unitarian Universalist Ministry, with Anita Farber-Robertson, UU Society for Community Ministries, 2013
  • Glorious Women: Award-Winning Sermons about Women, iUniverse, 2004
  • Standing Before Us: Unitarian Universalist Women and Social Reform, 1776–1936, Skinner House, 2000
  • A Matter of Preference: A Book About the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, 4th ed., New Directions, 1986
  • Collegium Occasional Papers: Edge of the Wave: Great Goddess - Fact, Working Hypothesis or Feminist Myth? Edited by Dorothy May Emerson, 1993, 2006, 2012 available through UUWR

Articles

Adult Education Programs

  • Becoming Women of Wisdom: Marking the Passage into the Crone Years, Rainbow Solutions, 2009, now published by UU Women and Religion.
  • Global Literacy Project: Weaving a U*U Global Village Network, online curriculum, International Convocation of Unitarian Universalist Women, 2008
  • Creating a Just Economic Community, six-session adult curriculum on economic justice, Unitarian Universalists for a Just Economic Community, 2001
  • Margaret Fuller Bicentennial 2010 and beyond