Dr. Ron Ruthruff is the Associate Professor of Theology & Culture at The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology and has served homeless and street involved youth and their families for the past thirty years. He has provided case management services; designed programs; and educated the community on the issues that impact this vulnerable population. Ron’s career goal is to empower persons to live lives of significance; to equip the church to love and serve their neighbors; and to engage communities in cross cultural and global conversations. Ron’s education is an eclectic blend of social work, counseling, and theological studies. Ron holds a B.A. from Western Washington University, an M.S. from Pepperdine University, and a Doctorate of Ministry in Complex Urban Settings from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Boston. Ron lives in the Rainier Valley, a multicultural neighborhood in the south end of Seattle with his wife, Linda; whom he has served with for the last 26 years. His two adult sons Ben and Clayton live close by.
“But we have no patterns for relating across our human differences as equals. As a result, those differences have been misnamed and misused in the service of separation and confusion.” -Audrey Lorde in Sister Outsider For the past nine years, I have the privilege of teaching Being the Word on the Street: Developing Intercultural Competency. […]
We live in a culture constructed on the scaffolding of systemic racist ideas, the racialization of ethnicity or safely siloed in our own ethnic communities. The murders of Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and Ahmaud Arbery; as well as the Make America Great Again anthems, have illuminated where we are in regard to equity and justice. […]
Dr. Ron Ruthruff writes that “denying yourself” is about something much more revolutionary than the shame-based messages we may have heard.
Last month, six students from The Seattle School participated in a one-week intensive in Guatemala City. Under the leadership and instruction of Dr. Ron Ruthruff, students were invited to establish conversation partners with Guatemalan leaders and increase awareness of those who are loving God and neighbor in a different cultural and geographical location. Here, Dr. […]
This month, six students from The Seattle School will participate in a one-week intensive in Guatemala City. The cross-cultural course, “Engaging Global Partnerships: Creating Conversations with Grassroots Leaders in their Context,” will be hosted by Guatemalan leaders serving Guatemala City communities impacted by poverty, lack of education, homelessness, addiction, and gang violence. Under the leadership […]
This month, six students from The Seattle School will participate in a one-week intensive in Guatemala City. The cross-cultural course, “Engaging Global Partnerships: Creating Conversations with Grassroots Leaders in their Context,” will be hosted by Guatemalan leaders serving Guatemala City communities impacted by poverty, lack of education, homelessness, addiction, and gang violence. Under the leadership […]
Dr. Ron Ruthruff, Associate Professor of Theology & Culture, is completing work on a new book that will be published later this year. In Closer to the Edge: Walking with Jesus for the World’s Sake, Ruthruff shares stories and offers reflections about sacrificial love for all of our neighbors and the radical call of Micah […]
This spring, I was invited to be the Associate Professor of Theology & Culture here at The Seattle School. I am excited and humbled to be called faculty. This new position comes after years of transition and disorientation. Five years ago, I left the place I loved: New Horizons Ministries. I had served marginalized young […]