Originally from Athens, GA, the Very Rev’d Ruth Ferguson received her Bachelor’s of English, with Honors, and her minor in Philosophy from Warren Wilson College in Asheville, NC. A lifelong Episcopalian, she attended the General Theological Seminary in New York City, where interfaith studies and dialogue deepened her understanding of her own faith and fostered ongoing interfaith relationships centered on prayer and contemplative practices, reconciliation, social justice, and world peace. Her ministry, both within and beyond the church, is inspired by the Works of Mercy.

Over the years, Ruth has served as chaplain and religion teacher at Episcopal day and boarding schools, missioner to rural churches, and curate and priest assistant to parishes in the dioceses of New York City and D.C. Drawn to the family-like atmosphere of our small congregation, Ruth comes to St. John’s after a thirteen-year rectorship in upstate New York. She delights in the beauty of Bellefonte and in being able to step out of the rectory to walk and visit with parishioners in the neighborhood. Ruth is the mother of Liza, who studies early music in Basel, Switzerland, and Hannah, who studies English and Art History in New York City.

Reverend Ferguson will be joined by four colleagues in the interfaith service: 

Wael Jabr is a faculty member in Supply Chain and Information Systems at Penn State’s Smeal College of Business. His research focuses on data-driven decision-making and on human–AI interaction. He spent the first 15 years of his life in Lebanon during a time of war, an experience that continues to shape his perspective. In Central Pennsylvania, he is active in community and nonprofit leadership and was recognized with Penn State’s 2026 Barash Award for Human Service.

Lior Sternfeld is an associate professor of history and Jewish Studies. He is a historian of Iran and the modern Middle East and focuses on the Jewish communities of the region. He is also the founding Associate Editor of the Palestine/Israel Review. 

Tony White is an assistant Professor of Philosophy at Penn State University. His current research focuses on nonviolent resistance, including virtue ethics and Buddhist philosophy. He is also a facilitator for the Alternatives to Violence Project and the founder and coordinator of its Northcentral PA chapter. 

Julia Spicher Kasdorf is Professor of English and Director of Creative Writing at Penn State. A published writer and poet, Kasdorf thinks about the relationships people have with the communities and places they come from and the places they inhabit, as well as the ways global and local concerns influence those relationships. With Racine Amos, she’s co-directed a community-university collaboration to uncover and amplify the stories of historic Black communities in Centre County.