Obituary: Ruth Carolyn Duck
Theologian, poet, hymnist
Ruth Carolyn Duck died peacefully from pneumonia on December 26, 2024, with loved ones near her.
Born in Washington D.C. on November 21, 1947 to Jesse Thomas Duck and Louise Farmer Duck, Ruth grew up in Washington and in Annapolis, MD. At the age of sixteen she and her family moved to Memphis, TN where she learned of the ministry of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and soon became clear about the injustice of racism. She earned her BA from Southwestern at Memphis University (now Rhodes College) in 1969, a Master of Divinity from Chicago Theological Seminary in 1973, a Master of Arts from the University of Notre Dame in 1987, and a Doctor of Theology from Boston University School of Theology in 1989. Her academic work focused on liturgy, worship, and the Trinitarian baptismal formula.
An ordained minister in the United Church of Christ, pastor at several UCC churches in earlier years in the Midwest, a liturgical theologian and professor of worship who taught for 27 years at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois, she was best known as the writer of some 200 published hymn texts and psalm paraphrases. Her hymns appear in numerous hymnals and supplements; she is often among those who have contributed the largest number of hymns in a given hymnal. She was a pioneer in the use of inclusive language that embraces everyone and enlarges our images of God in both hymn texts and other elements of Christian worship. “All of her hymns are deeply scriptural, arising from Ruth’s deep biblical knowledge,” a friend shared. “In addition, Ruth’s sense of multiculturalism enabled issues of justice, equality, and care for God’s creation to shape her creative crafting of hymns and worship resources.”
She was a life member of The Hymn Society in the United States and Canada, which named her a fellow in 2013, in recognition of her pioneering work in inclusive language for worship and her preeminence as a hymn poet and teacher.
She was a member and former president of the North American Academy of Liturgy; in 2018, she received its highest honor, the prestigious Berakah Award, that recognized her long-term contributions to liturgical scholarship and practice.
She enjoyed travels to many countries worldwide, lecturing, leading worship, and offering mentoring workshops on worship and hymn writing. She has written and edited numerous books, articles, and worship resources about and for Christian worship. In the last seven years of her life, she was a resident of Pilgrim Place, an intentional continuing care retirement community in Claremont.
“Preceded in death by members of her small family, she will be missed by cousins Elene and Larry Cooper; many loving friends; and numerous students, all of whom benefited from the gift of her hymns, her worship leadership, her teaching, and her inspiring life,” a friend added.
A celebration of her life with singing of some of her hymns will take place at 3 p.m. Saturday, February 22 in Decker Hall at Pilgrim Place, 665 Avery Rd., Claremont, CA 91711. The service will be livestreamed on Zoom and available afterward online. Visit ruthduck.com for the Zoom link or to view the recording.
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