ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL PREPARATION:

Ph.D. in Christian Ethics, Union Theological Seminary in New York City, 1981.

M.Phil. in Christian Ethics, Union Theological Seminary in New York City, 1977.

M.Div. in Systematic Theology, Union Theological Seminary in New York City, 1974.

B.A. in Philosophy and Religion, West Virginia Wesleyan College, Buckhannon, WV, 1971.

Ordained Elder, 1983, Minnesota Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church; Ordained Deacon, 1973, West Virginia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

Minister, UMC in MN: Newport (July 2000-present); Hillcrest, Bloomington (1993-June 2000); Central Park, St. Paul 1984-1993; Clarissa-Eagle Bend-Clotho 1981-84.

Created Wedding Ministers - A Service for Matching Couples and Wedding Ministers, 2004.

Created What A Great Church Dot Org - Easy Web Sites for Churches, 2003.

Created Easy Web Page Tools - a Web Service to provide tools for users who want to create and update their own web pages with my technical support, 2003.

Created SaintSavers Web Designing Services, 2003.

Created SaintSavers Wedding Officiating and Web Services, 2003.

Created SaintSavers Baptism Officiating Services, 2003.

Created SaintSavers Funeral Officiating and Web Services, 2003.

Filed Articles of Incorporation for SaintSavers Incorporated for the provision of wedding, funeral, baptism and web services, 2003.

Managed Hundreds of web pages from 1995-Present, including the web site of the MN United Methodist Church from 1994-2004.

Winner of 2 Merit Awards for Excellence from United Methodist Association of Communicators Annual Meeting in Mesa, Arizona, October 15, 1997; and one of 2 Certificates of Recognition for Web pages at UMAC in 1999 in Cleveland, Ohio. View Front Page Context for this article.

Minneapolis Star Tribune article hilighting Gary's Pastor's Pointers web pages

Conducted Workshops: "Revelation Revolution: Churches on the Internet," United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities, Fall, 1997 and Winter 1998.

Conducted Workshops: "Revelation Revolution: Churches on the Internet," MN UMC Annual Conference Sessions, 1995-99.

Wrote "There's A Way of Gentle Caring," - a choral piece for Worship, Fall 1995. Click here to view a Flash presentation of my family slides and Pam (wife) and I singing "There's A Way of Gentle Caring." Resize the window that opens so that it is about 5 inches wide and 3 inches high to get the best focus. On slow connections it may play roughly the first time through and then improve if you let it play through a second time.

Published "SaintSaver" (A Macintosh Software Program for Church Administration and Recordkeeping), Fall, 1994 - still in use by Macs today.

Wrote "Spirits Rising," a choral introit for Morning Worship, and three other Arrangements and Lyrics for Worship 1993.

Logged 500+ hours as a self-appointed PC Hardware/Software Technician

Taught "Christian Ethics in Urban Ministry," Luther Theological Seminary, St. Paul, Winter, 1992.

Published FATHERS' LIBERATION ETHICS, University Press of America, Lanham, MD, January, 1992. Click on this text to check it out and for ordering information.

Served as Chair of Urban Ministries Section, Board of Global Ministries, United Methodist Church, Minnesota Annual Conference, 1989-1993; Board member, 1984-1993; Secretary, 1991-1993.

Served as Chair of the Board, Disability Awareness Ministries, Inc., 1991-1993.

Taught "Ethics and Social Justice Issues," United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities, Fall, 1990.

Served on Task Force for Ministry Development, La Puerta Abierta UMC, St. Paul, MN, 1989-91.

Served on Board, Department of Indian Work, St. Paul Area Council of Churches, 1988-1993.

Served as Chair of Downtown Resident Needs Committee, St. Paul Downtown Community Development Council, 1988-91.

Served as Director of Economic and Social Justice, Board of Church and Society, United Methodist Church, Minnesota Annual Conference, 1986-1993.

Served on Board, St. Paul Area Council of Churches, 1986-91.

Served as Convenor, Downtown St. Paul Clergy Association, 1987-1990.

Contracted to teach "Contemporary Theology," Hamline University, Fall, 1986.

Taught "Modes of Ministry," United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities, Winter, 1985.

Taught "Religious Social Ethics," St. John's University School of Theology, Winter, 1985.

Produced a Cable TV series on worship resources, Channel 34, Cable Access, St. Paul, MN, 1985-86.

Served on the Board, Conference Council on Youth Ministry, United Methodist Church, Minnesota Annual Conference, 1982-84.

Served on the District Council on Ministry as Youth Ministry Coordinator, Northwest District, United Methodist Church, Minnesota Annual Conference, 1982-84.

Lectured on Medical Ethics, Concern for Dying, New York City, 1980-81.

Served as Graduate Assistant for "The Church in the Urban Context," Union Theological Seminary in New York City, 1977-79.

Taught courses in Adult Education, The Riverside Church, New York City, 1972-80.

Produced a multi-media presentation "I Love New York: Ministry in the City," Tri-State Media Ministry, Performed in the Citicorp Center at St. Peter's Lutheran Church, New York City, 1979.

Organized community action programs, Child and Family Justice Project, National Council of Churches, New York City, 1978-79.

Preached a sermon series for WRVR-FM, New York City, 1978.

Portrayed role of John Witherspoon on WNEW-TV, New York City, 1976.

Assistant to the Director of Media Services, Union Theological Seminary in New York City, 1972-79.

Provided research and technical work for an award-winning (CINE Golden Eagle) documentary on Union Theological Seminary in New York City, 1975.

Student-taught "Religious Ethics and Social Issues," The Masters School, Dobbs Ferry, NY, 1973-74.

Counseled with and taught Harlem youth in a religious education program, The Riverside Church, New York City, 1972-75.

Directed arts programs visiting prisons, hospitals, and mental health facilities, Hospital Audiences, Inc., New York City, 1972-74.

Religious Leadership Award, West Virginia Wesleyan College, 1971.

Wrote feature articles for Pharos Newspaper, West Virginia Wesleyan College, 1970-71.

Hosted a religion and social ethics commentary program, news reporter, DJ, Engineer, Sports Reporter, WVWC-FM, Buckhannon, WV, 1969-71.

Golf Team (Co-Captain, '71), West Virginia Wesleyan College, 1969-71. Finished 6th individually and on the All-Conference Team in WVIAC Conference Golf Championship, Pipestem, WV, 1971.

Interned in a suburban church, Glendale, West Virginia, 1970.

President, Religious Life Council, West Virginia Wesleyan College, 1970.

Radiotelephone Third Class License, Broadcast Endorsement, Federal Communications Commission, 1969.

Psi Chi, National Honor Society in Psychology, West Virginia Wesleyan College, 1970.

Wesleyan Medalist, West Virginia Wesleyan College, 1971.

Who's Who In American Colleges and Universities, West Virginia Wesleyan College, 1970.

Sports Editor and Columnist, Buckhannon-Republican Delta, Buckhannon, WV, 1967.

Male Lead, Senior Class Play, "Curlie" in OKLAHOMA, Triadelphia High School, 1967.

Junior Class President, Triadelphia High School, 1966.

National Honor Society, Triadelphia High School, 1966, 1967.

Forum (Debate Club) President, Triadelphia High School, 1966.

Thespians, Triadelphia High School, 1966-67.

Quill and Scroll, International Honorary of Journalists, Triadelphia High School, 1966-67.

Participant in Track, Basketball, and Football, Triadelphia High School, 1964-65.

Golf Team (Co-Captain, '67), Triadelphia High School, 1965-67.

Worked at Oglebay Park, Wheeling, WV, 1962-70.

Worked at Wheeling Stamping, Wheeling, WV, 1968-70.

Confirmed, Christ United Methodist Church, Wheeling, WV, 1965.

Baptized, West Bridgeport Methodist Church, Bridgeport, Ohio, 1949.

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SPOUSE'S VOCATION

Pamela Rae Armstrong has a Master's Degree in Religious Leadership from United Theological Seminary in New Brighton, MN. She has worked for Cooperating Community Programs in the Twin Cities, providing care for persons with developmental disabilities. She is a Half-Partner in her non-profit organization "Made In the Image," which provides consulting and education in disability awareness issues. She recently taught a course at United Theological Seminary in the Twin Cities on disability issues in theology and the church. She works as a Teacher and Curriculum Coordinator for infants at Tutor Time in Cottage Grove. Pam also works at Newport United Methodist Church as Christian Education and Youth Director. She is the mother of Melody Joy Armstrong (aka "Emmy") and Michelle Grace Armstrong (aka "Ellie"). She is stepmother to Jessica Postlethwaite and Jon Ritner.

"There's A Way of Gentle Caring"

by Gary Ritner

With these loving words do we
become what God made us,
beautiful child of the Son.

We can have a heart that's loving
not rejecting any neighbor;
seeing good in everyone;
building up not tearing down
giving life so all may live.

With too much critique we whither,
but loving light makes us,
ripened fruit of the Vine.

If you have Flash, you might like to click here to view a Flash presentation of family slides and Pam and I singing "There's A Way of Gentle Caring"

Great to see you here! Enjoy your travels!

Back to Gary's Home Domain at www.garyritner.org