Getting to Know... Ruth Bennett
Ruth has been a regular face at High Street in various guises, so we thought it was time to find out a little more about her:
How are you involved with church life?
I volunteer in a few places in church: youth work, worship group and I’ve just agreed to take on the HR responsibility for staff employed by High Street.
What does life look like for you outside church?
My life is starting to change at the moment as my two kids are growing up fast. Abigail has just left home and is now a teacher in Oxford. Jonah is a few weeks off being an adult himself. This means I have a lot more time than I used to as a single Mum of small ones. I am often at the gym (hi Nina!) and am currently dipping my toes in the water of being part of an orchestra (cello). My first degree was in Fine Art, so am always toying with the idea of painting/printing again but don’t get too far into that.
In my work life I’m a self employed business coach and trainer. I spend a lot of my time teaching people how to have great conversations, as well as supporting people in their own thinking. A lot of my work is with vicars in the Church of England, but also people in the Health Service, education and corporate sector. Really I love being with people. Mostly I work on Zoom from home and jump at the chance for an in person piece of work.
Who inspires you and why?
Brian Maclaren. He’s an ex-pastor and author I first encountered in my twenties and his writing challenged everything I thought I knew about faith. I’ve read his work and others like him since. He inspires me because he has such grace and kindness in his inclusive way of seeing the world and God and he manages the hateful comments that come his way without malice.
If you could change one thing in the world what would it be?
I would love the world to be full of people who listen to each other, really listen. And to put other’s needs first. I think that would make a huge difference to how we understand and relate to each other and a good step in the direction of equity and sharing power rather than lording it over each other.
What helps you connect with God both in and outside church?
Belonging to a small community of people who want to share life and faith really helps me connect with God. I belong to a community in America where we share ‘morning prayer’. I only make it once or twice a week (it’s 1pm here), but the people are real, loving, engaged and broken (like we all are). I love that we can share lives, hopes, grief and everything in between and encourage each other in our faith journeys.
I also get a lot from reading/listening to books that challenge my thinking and wrestling with new ideas with others.