Ruth C. Duck

Ruth Carolyn Duck (November 21, 1947 – December 26, 2024) was an ordained pastor in the United Church of Christ, a liturgical theologian and professor of worship who taught for 27 years at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois. Duck was best known for her work as a composer, writer and adaptor of hymns. In 1973, she was part of the committee at the Ecumenical Women's Center of Chicago that produced Because We Are One People, the first 20th century collection of original and adapted hymns that promoted the use of “non-sexist language”. Duck wrote over 150 hymns, edited three books of sources for worship services and wrote on the topic of Trinitarian theology, all with an eye toward facilitating the use of gender inclusive language in the context of Christian worship. She was a leading champion for and developer of inclusive language worship sources.

Early life and education Duck was born on November 21, 1947, in Washington D. C., to Jesse Thomas Duck and Louise Farmer Duck. She grew up in the Washington D.C., and Annapolis, Maryland, areas. At the age of 16, she moved with her family to Memphis, Tennessee, where she was exposed to the ministry of Martin Luther King Jr. Her academic work focused on Christian education, liturgy and worship and the Trinitarian baptismal formula.

Career Duck was ordained a minister in the United Church of Christ in 1974. She estimated that she had written “around 150–200” hymn-texts, “about ten a year.” She also served on a number of committees that produced hymnals, such as the Chalice Hymnal for the Disciples of Christ.

Honorary degrees and awards Duck received an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Chicago Theological Seminary in 1983.

Selected works

Books Worship for the Whole People of God. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2013. Praising God: The Trinity in Christian Worship (with Patricia Wilson-Kastner), Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 1999. Finding Words for Worship: A Guide for Leaders. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 1995. Gender and the Name of God: The Trinitarian Baptismal Formula. New York: Pilgrim Press, 1992.

Hymn text The Poetry of Grace. Carol Stream, IL: Hope Publishing, 2015, ed. Dan Damon. Welcome God’s Tomorrow. Chicago: G.I.A., 2005. Circles of Care: Hymns and Songs. Cleveland: The Pilgrim Press, 1998. Dancing in the Universe: Hymns and songs by Ruth Duck. Chicago: G.I.A., 1993. Look to This Day: Songs of the Faith (with Ron Klusmeier), Cascade, Wisconsin: WorshipArts, 1990.

Worship resources Touch Holiness: Resources for Worship (with Maren Tirabassi), New York: The Pilgrim Press, 1990, updated 2012. Flames of the Spirit: Resources for Worship, (editor and contributor), New York: The Pilgrim Press, 1985. Bread for the Journey: Resources for Worship, (editor and contributor), New York: The Pilgrim Press, 1981.

Edited and co-edited hymn resources Becoming One (with Linda Clark, projector director), (editor and contributor), Boston University School of Theology, 1986. Everflowing Streams: Songs for Worship, (Editor with Michael Bausch), (contributor), New York: Pilgrim Press, 1981. Because We Are One People and Sing a Womansong, (editorial committee and contributor), Chicago: Ecumenical Women's Center, 1974 and 1975.