Ruth Edmonds Email & Phone Number

Burntwood, Gb

Lichfield, England, United Kingdom

-Provided regular confidential visiting and a pastoral presence at the refuge.-Co-authored a forgiveness course with domestic abuse survivor and project founder Kathy Coe MBE.

Burntwood, England, United Kingdom

Curate at a large inclusive charismatic evangelical church with a Sunday attendance of 150 and a midweek attendance of 40 in an ex-mining town (Burntwood). The church has a reputation for hospitality and high-quality teaching.This involved:-Leading worship, preaching and teaching regularly. This includes longer, more interactive, and visually engaging sermons with slides lasting 25-30 minutes on a Sunday; more traditionally catholic services around the benefice and shorter more reflective Monday services.-Managing and leading the older teenage provision (Y10-13) including leading and recruiting volunteers and setting a vision. The group mostly involved LGBT and neurodiverse teenagers with complex safeguarding needs.-Involvement in management and strategy including chairing PCC and standing committee.-Conducted Bible studies in housegroups exploring various topics including grief, hope, gratitude, and ambition.-Established and facilitated a book club at the church attended by both church members and non-church people, discussing fiction books with spiritual themes. I then recruited and empowered volunteers to take this over and continue to supervise them.-Initiated a Pub Club, a gathering attended by a mix of church and non-church attendees, providing a an entry point into the community.-Provided support to adults from backgrounds of spiritual abuse including preparing them for baptism and encouraging them to engage with a wide range of views on the Bible and to consider their own viewpoint in the context of range of alternatives.-Used interactive prayer, rituals, and crafts in all-age services with uniformed groups.-Leading pastoral offices -Incorporated visual aids, interactive examples, and songs to communicate Christian beliefs during the monthly nursing home service.

London, Uk

-Developed campaign strategy and managed teams of volunteers for events. -Developed a strategy for contacting different dioceses and denominations.

Bristol, United Kingdom

During the COVID-19 period (2020-2021), I took primary leadership responsibility for the Foundation community. I established a new monastic rhythm of prayer and a framework for pastoral care in lockdown.I was involved in preaching and leading contemplative and alternative worship services. I also oversaw and coordinated the events programmes. Notable events I organised included a thought-provoking Aretha Franklin service that explored into Black Theology, a vibrant 12th-night feast, and an immersive virtual wilderness experience. I also led a number of ‘Friendly Forum’ discussions which took place in a pub on the borderline between sacred and secular.One of my key accomplishments was leading, managing, and curating a faith, arts, and justice mini-festival. This mini-festival included diverse activities such as a 'Death Cafe' for open discussions on mortality, an engaging open mic session, and a stimulating debate exploring the intersection of debt and theology. Furthermore, I facilitated and led debates and panel discussions on pressing issues such as environmental stewardship; church dynamics and whiteness and debt, economics and theology. Additionally, I curated a range of spirituality events from sessions dedicated to the exploring mystical poetry of Rilke, to Taizé prayer and innovative forms of worship.

Studied at the Queen's Foundation in Birmingham which is particularly known for contextual theology, black theology and feminist theologies.

London, United Kingdom

-Led a campaign to recruit 9 distinguished patrons including Archbishop John Sentamu, Cardinal Nichols, Rev'd Canon Steve Chalke MBE, and others.-Recruited and coordinated volunteers.-Developed a comprehensive church leader pack.-Collaborated on leading and developing clergy training events.-Provided support for various events within the community.

London, United Kingdom

-Led and coordinated the "Circus Spirit" community for individuals in their 20s and 30s, overseeing a range of activities including home groups, vocational prayer events, monthly speaker/storytelling/interfaith gatherings, and social events. This began as a group of 4 people and grew to a community of around 30 people who were fully involved in the church.-Orchestrated the International Breakfast initiative, a weekly drop-in session offering hospitality and a platform for creativity to refugees and individuals without access to public funds. This involved managing 4 teams of 8-12 volunteers, and overseeing 4 team leaders. It also involved impact monitoring and overseeing grants.-Publicized events with posters and social media-Engaged in public speaking engagements, including preaching, talks, storytelling, and representing the church at some functions and local schools.-Contributed to the organization of creative services, actively participating in the liturgy group and leading services when required.-Volunteered with the weekly Winter Night Shelter program to support vulnerable individuals in the community.-Assisted the Children's Champion in various capacities including managing the children’s corner.-Collaborated on the organization and execution of events within the community.

Bristol, United Kingdom

-Prepared lessons.-Led and cooordinated small teams of paid contractors.-Taught in an afterschool club setting in a range of primary schools around Bristol.-Built relationships with schools so they will host the course again,

Bristol, United Kingdom

-Taught maths in an engaging way to primary school pupils in an after-school club.-Prepared lessons and assemblies to encourage children to be excited about maths.

Bristol, United Kingdom

Events: organising regular services, medium sized (80-150 people) fundraising art/culture events, leading a team of 8 people to create alt:worship services (50-130 people) including a Metal Mass and organising and running small scale speaker/discussion (15-30 people) events called the Friendly Forum on faith-related topics.Leading: leading services and chairing meetings including charged discussion groups on controvertial topics (including racism, gender and salvation) so that everyone feels comfortable and able to contribute & leading the pastoral teamCommunications: weekly emails, developing a social media presence (Facebook, Twitter)Pastoral: establishing a new pastoral team, building social relationships and community atmosphere, visiting members of the community & people who are interested in it.Marketing: producing posters, designing a marketing campaign, using social media, public speakingDesign: designing marketing materials and websites to advertise events and services. This includes designing the www.friendlyforum.org website using Wix, re-designing www.friendlystage.org; and maintaining www.foundationbristol.org.Strategy: Sitting on the steering group and helping to develop a strategic vision for the community

Bristol, United Kingdom

Communications: weekly emails, social media presence (Facebook, Twitter)Marketing: producing posters, designing a marketing campaign, using social media, public speakingOrganisation: running church rota, organising services, licensing, organising fundraising events

Bristol, United Kingdom

My responsibilities include tending the bar, serving food and clearing up at the end of the night.

Matlock Cab

Responsibilities included: drafting casework, meeting clients face-to-face or dealing with them over the phone; identifying and concisely summarizing their problems; providing basic advice or referring them to other organisations; keeping local information up to date and identifying social policy issues.

Gt Longstone, United Kingdom

All Saints School, Kumba, Cameroon

Taught Maths and Additional Maths to GCE level and English Literature to year 7 level.Additional responsibilities included: timetabling and basic school administration, writing, marking and invigilating exams and recruiting new students.

London, United Kingdom

Responsibilities included: drafting casework, meeting with constituents and representatives of organisations which operate within the constituency, writing press releases and answering constituent enquiries over the telephone.

Bachelor Of Arts (Ba), Philosophy, Politics And Economics, 2.1

Activities and Societies: "A theory of Justice: the Musical", Oxford Students for Liberty, Addington Society, Brasenose JCR, Heartstrings.

Master’S Degree, Policy Research, Merit

High School

Activities and Societies: Senior Choir, Senior Orchestra A levels: 5 A*s GCSEs: 11 A*s, including Maths, English, Science, French.