RUTH DIXSON HARVEY
The Reverend Ruth Dixson Harvey is a compassionate, loving woman of God, who is the current Pastor of The United Church of Christ, Toms River, NJ. She currently serves on the Pre-Ordination Committee of the New Jersey Association of the Central Atlantic Conference of the United Church of Christ. She is also the National President of Ministers, for Racial, Social and Economic Justice in the United Church of Christ. She has been a member of several boards on the local, association and national level of the United Church of Christ
Rev. Harvey grew up in Flint, MI and comes to us via Washington, DC where she received her Bachelor of Arts, Juris Doctor of Law, and Master of Divinity from Howard University, Washington DC. She began work on her Doctor of Ministry at Lancaster Theology in Lancaster, PA, however, life intervened and she did not finish. At the current time she is studying to become a Spiritual Director.
Pastor Ruth was ordained on June 23, 1996 at the Heritage Fellowship United Church of Christ of Reston, Virginia. Since this date she has been a supply minister, associate minister, interim pastor, interim associate conference minster and settled pastor.
Programs which she has helped churches to implement include but are not limited to establishing Watch Night Services where you celebrate in worship bringing in the New Year; Bible Studies for young and adults; introducing Stephen’s Ministry care team, teaching several sessions on the healing ministry of Jesus and participation in the healing ministry; introduced to the church a holistic ministry which she founded called H.I.S. and H.E.R. Ministry (Healing, Interceding, Servicing and Helping, Empowering, and Restoring). This ministry was born after several members, including Pastor Harvey, came through serious illnesses. She stated that God revealed to her that her ministry was to the “whole person” (spiritual, emotional, and physical) so that they might have an abundant life. Since that time, she has incorporated these principles into her own life, as well as in her teaching and preaching, as she believes Jesus did. Pastor Ruth believes and teaches “FAITH HAS FEET.” She believes that with the help of God you can change your situation, but you must be an active participant in the process.
She loves yoga and comedy movies and says that she is a “child at heart.” Her favorite scriptures is Philippians 4:13 –“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” One of her favorite hymns is “Great is Thy Faithfulness.”