A retired educator and school principal was recently installed as pastor of Christ United Church of Christ in Rush Township.

“Christ UCC is the only church I have served as pastor, and should be the only one I will serve — at least that’s the plan, unless God has something else in mind,” said Pastor RuthAnn Gardiner, of Summit Hill.

Gardiner, who goes by Pastor Ruth, was installed during an Aug. 23 service led by the Rev. Jeffrey Johnson of the Commission on Ministry, and the Rev. Janet Kline, who served the church — locally known as “the White Church” — for many years before her retirement several years ago.

Gardiner spent 35 years in educational roles at the Lehighton and Tamaqua area school districts and retired in 2020 as Tamaqua’s director of special education.

A native of northwestern New Jersey, she has a background rooted in faith.

“I was raised in the church, mostly Presbyterian, but at times Methodist and United Church of Christ,” Gardiner said. “I taught Sunday school for 30 years and was a Sunday school superintendent for many of those.”

She recalled delivering her first sermon while a senior in high school.

“Each senior gave a 5 minute sermon,” Gardiner said of the tradition in her former church. “I really liked doing that, and so for most of my adult life, I would fill in on occasion if a church needed a supply pastor.”

After high school graduation, Gardiner earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education from East Stroudsburg University, and later, a master’s degree in educational leadership from Wilkes University. She finished her education at Wilkes in 2010 with an ABD (all but dissertation) while working toward her doctor of education.

Gardiner’s career began as an English teacher at the Lehighton Area High School from 1989 to 2002. From there, she served as assistant principal at the Tamaqua Area High School from 2002 to 2004, and served as the district’s middle school principal from 2004 to 2008, and high school principal from 2008 to 2011. In 2011, she was appointed director of special education, and following retirement, she returned as a substitute teacher for four years and continues to help the Tamaqua Drama Club with set design and construction.

“Last June, I was asked to fill in for three months at the White Church in Barnesville by Deb Sweeney, church organist, and a good friend of mine,” Gardiner said. “It took only a few weeks to realize that this was a call from God for me to take on a new career path.”

She began the process toward lay ministry last fall and completed all the requirements in June.

“I love serving at the White Church and ministering to the people there. I find great joy in visiting the shut-ins and love the opportunity to instruct our little ones through the children’s sermon,” Gardiner said.

The congregation is pleased to have Gardiner, too.

“We are very fortunate to have found Ruth and that she was willing to accept her calling with our church,” said Wesley Konsavage, president of the church’s consistory. “Ruth is doing an amazing job; her Sunday services are a combination of traditional and contemporary styles and includes a children’s sermon.”

Gardiner said her family has stood behind her.

“My family has been very supportive. Both my husband, Marc, and my daughter, Amy, have joined the church membership,” she noted. “Callie and Simon (Gardiner’s grandchildren) sit with them in the front row every Sunday, like a traditional minister’s family. I get a kick out of that.”

Sadly, Gardiner’s mother, Diane Temples, passed away in June and missed the installation.

“She was always an inspiration to me in serving the church,” Gardiner said.

Gardiner and Konsavage invited all to attend 11:15 a.m. Sunday services at the church at the corner of Church and Field roads.