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The Rev. Dr. Ruth C. Duck, an influential hymnwriter known for her inclusive language in worship, passed away on December 26, 2024, at the age of 77. Her contributions to hymnody have been recognized globally for their groundbreaking approach to liturgical language and imagery.
In her 1993 hymn “Come and Seek the Ways of Wisdom,” Duck personified wisdom as “she who clears the path to justice, showing us what love must do.” This reflects her lifelong dedication to portraying God's inclusive love and commitment to justice through sacred music.
“She helped people understand how narrow the image of God had been. We all relied on her creativity and powerful imagery,” stated the Rev. Dr. Davida Foy Crabtree, a retired conference minister from First Church in Windsor, Connecticut.
Duck was an ordained pastor in the United Church of Christ and served several congregations before becoming a Professor of Worship at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois. She was a pioneer in using feminine language and imagery for God starting in the early 1970s.
“Ruth was at the very beginning when feminist, womanist, racial and liberation theologies were bursting onto the scene in the early ‘70s,” said Rev. Loey Powell, one of the first openly Lesbian pastors ordained in the United Church of Christ.
Powell emphasized Duck's impact on LGBTQ communities by providing affirming hymns that offered new ways to express God's love. Duck’s work extended beyond gender inclusivity; she also brought new imagery for earth care into worship resources.
Rev. Carolyn Winfrey Gillette, a Presbyterian pastor inspired by Duck's work early in her ministry, praised Duck's hymns for their "beautiful images" that creatively referenced biblical texts. Gillette has written over 400 hymns herself and often recommends aspiring hymn writers look to Duck for inspiration.
While Duck received numerous accolades during her lifetime—including the Berakah Award from the North American Academy of Liturgy—her friends and colleagues remember her most for encouraging others' creativity rather than seeking personal glory.
Diane Stephens Hogue credits Duck with shaping her own liturgy writing as well as retreats she leads as a spiritual director in Castle Pines, Colorado.
The Rev. Hannah C. Brown from West Concord Union Church shared how singing Duck’s hymns helped reconcile her attraction to Christian tradition with concerns about patriarchal theology during college years.
Foy Crabtree hopes that renewed interest will arise posthumously in Ruth Duck’s work so more individuals can discover her contributions to creating inclusive worship resources: “Our impoverished imaginations were enriched not only by her creative use of words but by her love of worship.”
