Presiding Elders' Council
A.M.E. Zion Church
Rev. Dr. John Paul Ruth
Treasurer
John Paul Ruth
is a native of Lumberton, North
Carolina. He was born on July 1, 1947 to
Deacon John Eligah Ruth and Mrs. Gladys
Thompson Ruth. He attended the primary
schools of Pembroke, North Carolina. He
graduated from J. H. Hayswood High
School in Lumberton North Carolina in
1964 and graduated from Livingstone
College in Salisbury North Carolina in
1969 where he received a Bachelor of
Arts Degree in Sociology. He received a
Master of Divinity Degree from The
Interdenominational Theological Center
in Atlanta, Georgia in 1972 and was
awarded an Honorary Doctor’s Degree from
Clinton College in Rock Hill South
Carolina in 1998.
He married the former Miss Betty Bernice Miller on August 30, 1969. They have two children, a daughter Camille Yvette Ruth and a son Brian Douglas Ruth. The Lord has blessed them with three grandchildren, Ashley Nicole Ruth, Amber Leshaun Ruth and Joshua Alphonso Joyner.
Dr. Ruth has spent much of his life in service to the Lord. He accepted his call to preach at the age of nine in Lumberton, North Carolina. He was assigned to Pastor Mt. Zion A. M. E. Zion Church in Loganville, Georgia in 1969 and remained as Pastor until he was appointed as Presiding Elder of the Augusta-Winder District. He also pastored Simmons Chapel A.M. E. Zion Church in Lawrenceville, Georgia for two years.
He has served as Presiding Elder of the Winder District, Augusta-Winder District, Augusta District, and Atlanta District and currently serves the Conyers-Winder District of the Georgia Conference as Presiding Elder which includes eleven Churches. He served as Treasurer for the South Georgia Annual Conference under Bishops, Cecil Bishop, George E. Battle, Jr. and Joseph Johnson.
He retired in 2009 from the Georgia Department of Corrections after being employed as Probation Officer Supervisor and Deputy Warden of Care and Treatment after thirty years.
He married the former Miss Betty Bernice Miller on August 30, 1969. They have two children, a daughter Camille Yvette Ruth and a son Brian Douglas Ruth. The Lord has blessed them with three grandchildren, Ashley Nicole Ruth, Amber Leshaun Ruth and Joshua Alphonso Joyner.
Dr. Ruth has spent much of his life in service to the Lord. He accepted his call to preach at the age of nine in Lumberton, North Carolina. He was assigned to Pastor Mt. Zion A. M. E. Zion Church in Loganville, Georgia in 1969 and remained as Pastor until he was appointed as Presiding Elder of the Augusta-Winder District. He also pastored Simmons Chapel A.M. E. Zion Church in Lawrenceville, Georgia for two years.
He has served as Presiding Elder of the Winder District, Augusta-Winder District, Augusta District, and Atlanta District and currently serves the Conyers-Winder District of the Georgia Conference as Presiding Elder which includes eleven Churches. He served as Treasurer for the South Georgia Annual Conference under Bishops, Cecil Bishop, George E. Battle, Jr. and Joseph Johnson.
He retired in 2009 from the Georgia Department of Corrections after being employed as Probation Officer Supervisor and Deputy Warden of Care and Treatment after thirty years.
