001 Bio as of April 2009

Mary C. Ruth and William J. Ruth

The Ruths are long-term (6 months or more) volunteers through the national United Church of Christ (UCC), Volunteer Ministries Office, located in Cleveland. The program is called “Partners in Service” and it allows church members like the Ruths to ‘give back to society’ in return for their many blessings.

They began their volunteer service in January 2003 with a ‘first assignment’ at Menaul School (a Presbyterian affiliated agency) in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Mary and Bill each volunteered 35 hours a week – Mary in the development office and Bill tutored students and assisted in the business office. Living in the Southwest provided them with many opportunities to explore the area, become active in the Church of the Good Shepherd UCC, and absorb the culture.

Blowing Rock Conference Center, a UCC affiliated agency in the mountains of North Carolina, was their second assignment (June 2004 to June 2005) where they worked with its Executive Director on various projects that brought the facility to an even higher level of service.  Mary concentrated on guest services and email development/promotion while Bill served as concierge and assisted with painting projects that enhanced the overall visual appeal of the site.

Their third volunteer service location (Aug 2005-Jul 2006) was at a Learning Center affiliated with Heifer Project International, in Perryville, Arkansas.  They lived at Heifer Ranch (1200 acres) with about 50 age-diverse volunteers. Bill assisted the education department by leading tours for visitors, facilitated global village experiences for youth and did some ranch chores.  Mary devoted her energy to a busy office position as Ranch Events Assistant where she handled telephone calls, sent promotional emails concerning various programs and utilized a customized computer database for reservations.

In September 2006 the Ruths began serving a nine month assignment as pioneering UCC Partners in Service volunteers at the Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC) in Atlanta.  Mary volunteered with the Institutional Advancement department where she mentored a new alumni relations director and created an extensive email communication system. Bill volunteered with the Admissions department and also devoted considerable effort to convert institutional advancement data to a new database. They experienced living and working as a minority, expanded their knowledge of the civil rights movement and also enjoyed an affiliation with First Congregational Church UCC in Atlanta.

In June 2007 in Hartford CT at the UCC General Synod 26 the Ruths received an award of affirmation at the Wider Church Ministries Global Ministries International Dinner for their “commitment to service in diverse settings as Partners in Service volunteers and for fostering connections with local churches”.

Their fifth assignment was at Montreat Conference Center in Montreat, NC, where Mary helped out in the development office and Bill did special projects for the president in facilities study and human resources.  They served during the fall season of 2007.

Mary and Bill’s 6th volunteer ministry assignment was for 9 months (Feb-Nov 2008) in Cleveland, Ohio. They served at the United Church of Christ (UCC) National Setting located at Church House, 700 Prospect Ave E.  Their projects revolved around computer database work, friend-raising emails and phone calls, numerous staff interviews and writing a 75 page best practices Raisers Edge computer manual.

Their current assignment is at Silver Lake Conference Center in Sharon, CT, for 8 months beginning mid March 2009. This site is where Mary attended church camp and did an Elon College internship there in the 1960’s.  In the 1980’s each of their children attended this UCC camp and both Mary and Bill served as camp counselors.  Their duties this time will revolve around friend-raising with Silver Lake alumni, some light maintenance work, creating a maintenance inventory database, some speaking engagements and general support of the SLCC directors.  Visit http://silverlakect.org/ to learn more.  

Bill grew up in New Jersey and entered Elon College, where he met Mary in the marching band. They were married after graduation in 1966. Bill served 4 years in the Air Force and then worked for Travelers Insurance Company in Hartford, CT, for 22 years. In 1990, the Ruths relocated to North Carolina where Bill taught adult literacy at Alamance Community College and managed a lab to teach computer skills to employees of Burlington Industries.Mary was born and raised in Connecticut. Some of Mary’s most memorable experiences include founding a nursery school, working in Mission and Stewardship for the UCC Connecticut Conference, being ‘called’ by Allied Churches of Alamance County in Burlington, NC, to direct an emergency night shelter and soup kitchen, writing a book titled “I Believe in Angels” and being employed (1995-2002) by Elon University as Director of Alumni and Parent Relations.The Ruths lived in Hebron, CT, for 20 years and then in the town of Elon College for 10 years and now have a townhome in Stoney Creek, NC.  They are members of Elon Community Church UCC and have 2 grown children (Cindi and David) and 5 grandchildren: Sawyer, Brynne and Luke in TX, and Ashley and Drew in NC.

The Ruths enjoy this volunteer ministry, plan to continue volunteering at different sites and locations as long as they are able, and hope that others will consider such service.

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