Ruth earned an M.Div. from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena in 2022. Under care of a United Church of Christ congregation in Altadena, she has completed most requirements for ordination in the UCC denomination. Since the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is in full communion with UCC, Ruth will work toward ordination as a Presbyterian minister by the end of this year.

During her pastoral training, Ruth served as a chaplain at USC Arcadia hospital and pastoral staff at Hollywood Presbyterian Church, which included staffing a winter shelter for the unhoused.

Ruth also served as senior director of Fuller’s Brehm Center for the arts and worship from 2020 until earlier this year. However, Ruth, who identifies as queer, separated from Fuller in January after declining to sign Fuller’s mandatory agreement that prohibits “homosexual forms of explicit sexual conduct.”

In addition to her personal beliefs affirming the LGBTQ community, Ruth declined to sign the statement because she was working toward ordination in a denomination that sanctions marriages of LGBTQ couples.

Prior to seminary, Ruth spent a decade working in advertising agencies writing for some of the world’s largest corporations, all while church planting in her evenings and weekends.

Her professional writing and marketing background will serve her well in leading CPC’s outreach efforts.

A resident of Pasadena, Ruth enjoys hosting potluck dinners for friends and hiking with her dog Hero.