Ruth-Ann Collins joined Ministries with Young People on February 12 as national staff officer for Children's Ministries and Christian Education at the Episcopal Church Center in New York City.
For the past six years, Collins served as Canon for Christian Education at the Cathedral of the Incarnation in the Diocese of Long Island, New York, and has consulted for several years for the Episcopal Church on events including "Will Our Faith Have Children" and "Wrestling with the Big Questions."
Prior to working at the Cathedral, Collins was an organizational development consultant for small to mid-sized businesses and non-profit organizations. She has also served as executive director for a non-denominational Parish Resource Center serving Brooklyn, Queens and Long Island. Her extensive background in strategic planning, program design and communications is the result of her years as director of human resources for a regional corporation with 13,000 employees.
"I believe there is a thirst on the part of most people, a thirst and desire for a greater understanding of themselves, the world around them, and their relationship with and understanding of God," she said. "We have a great opportunity to focus on relationships and communication across the Episcopal Church and to help develop leadership of all ages focused on the mission of the church."
