Formerly a teacher and drug and alcohol counselor; Ruth was ordained on January 20, 1990 and served as the Associate Pastor for Outreach and Evangelism at St. Francis Lutheran Church, San Francisco.

In 1990, she founded Lutheran Lesbian and Gay Ministry along with his colleagues, Pastors Jeff Johnson and Phyllis Zillhart, to provide an outreach to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered community of the San Francisco Bay Area. These three persons were the first openly lesbian and gay people to be ordained in the Lutheran Church.

Ruth was ordained extra ordinem in January 1990 at a service at historic St. Paulus Lutheran Church in San Francisco that was attended by over 1000 persons, with participation by over 70 clergy members. She was considered ineligible for placement in an ELCA congregation because of a denominational policy that requires a pledge of celibacy from gay and lesbian pastors.

Ruth is an accomplished stained glass artist who has completed projects at St. Francis and Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer in Sacramento, CA.

Sermon: You Are My Beloved Ones, On Whom My Favor Rests
(for more sermons check out the sermons posted on the St. Francis website)

 

Call To Witness (2006)

Offering insight into the current struggles over sexuality within organized religion, Pam Walton's groundbreaking documentary tells the stories of three openly gay and lesbian Midwestern Lutheran pastors who have taken a stand against their own church. The film clearly and skillfully outlines the contradictions within a church that supposedly welcomes lesbians and gay men -- but at the same time condemns them.

Starring: Steve Sabin, Jane Ralph, Jeff Johnson, Anita Hill, Phillis Zillhart, Ruth Frost ...
Director: Pam Walton
Genre:  Documentary/Religion