ADJUNCT PROFESSOR

Much of Rev. Ruth MacKenzie’s career was spent in the ministry of artistry. For the last part of her career, she shifted her focus to the artistry of ministry. She received her Master of Divinity from United Theological Seminary and served First Universalist Church of Minneapolis for ten years as Minister of Worship and Pastoral Care. She has just returned from Dallas, TX, where she served as Minister in Residence at First Unitarian Church of Dallas. Through much of her ministry, Ruth has endeavored to bring her knowledge of the arts to the creation of worship and ritual experiences that are visceral and meaningful. She has been deeply shaped by her work at First Universalist Church, its commitment to racial justice, and its mission to “create a multi-racial, multi-cultural, and intergenerational faith community of mutual caring and support where people bring all of who they are and welcome each other with joy.”

As a creative and performance artist, Ruth created theatrical works such as Kalevala: Dream of the Salmon Maiden, The Snow Queen, and Theotokos, which were produced by the Guthrie Theater, The O’Shaughnessy, and the Children’s Theatre Company. She has performed concerts throughout the United States and the Nordic Countries. She is the recipient of two McKnight Fellowships and a Jonathan Larson Performing Arts Foundation Grant, NY.

Education

M.Div., United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities