We offer our condolences to the family and colleagues of the Rev. Dr. Shirley Ann Ranck, who died on May 14, 2023, at the age of 92.
Shirley was born on October 22, 1930, in Jersey City, NJ to Gilbert Holmes Bush and Ann West Bush. Her father was an Episcopalian; her mother, however, insisted that religion was to be found or lived out in the world. Shirley grew up with a curious notion that religion had to do not only with the Bible and hymns and prayers but how one lived one’s life.
She attended a free junior college at night for the first two years of college, got married, and completed her Bachelor of Arts from Montclair State University, NJ in 1953. In 1958, she graduated from Drew University, NJ with her Master of Religious Education. She worked and commuted to school for most of her higher education. This enabled her to feel connected to people from all walks of life.
Shirley earned her Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology from the City University of NY in 1964 following which she worked as a New Jersey public school psychologist. After receiving her Ph.D. in Urban School Psychology (1976) from Fordham University, NY she decided on a career change. It did not occur to her to become a minister until she became a UU in the 1970’s. For her, UU ministry was an opportunity to grow and interact more creatively with many people. She was excited by the wide range of possibilities for creative worship and the underlying commitment to growth and change. In 1978, she graduated with her Master of Divinity from Starr King School for the Ministry.
Rev. Dr. Ranck served her first interim ministry at Starr King UU Church, Hayward, CA (1980). She was ordained by the Northern Hills Fellowship, Cincinnati, OH (now The Gathering at Northern Hills) on October 12, 1980, where she served until 1982. At Northern Hills, she took a leading role in developing new adult education material. Her sense of “worship”, education, and counseling were strong aspects of her ministry. From 1988 to 1990, she served a yoked ministry at the UU Fellowship of Mobile, AL, and the UU Church of Jackson, MS. At the Mobile Fellowship, she was instrumental in helping leadership extend its view from leadership by the few to broader-based shared responsibilities. While at the Jackson congregation, she helped the congregation work through its grief and rebuilding effort. Subsequently, she served as a full-time interim minister at the following: the UU Congregation of Marin, San Rafael, CA (1990-1991); Unity Temple UU Congregation, Oak Park, IL (1991-1992); and the First Parish UU Church, Kennebunk, ME (1992-1993). She retired from her active ministry in 1993.
Following retirement, Rev. Dr. Ranck served the UU Society of Sacramento, CA (1997-1999) as a part-time pastoral minister coincident with her interim ministry (part-time) at the UU Fellowship of Northern Nevada, Reno, NV (1997-1998). Her spiritual autobiography class and class on the UU principles were well attended at the Sacramento congregation. During her two years of ministry at the Olympia UU Congregation, WA (1999-2001) she worked to resolve the issues of power and communication and established channels of cooperation.
At the UU Church of Las Cruces, NM (2002-2003) Rev. Dr. Ranck arranged a productive vision and mission workshop and reconnected the congregation with the District. Her sermons and talkbacks, and her conflict management skills were remarkable. Likewise, at the UU Congregation of Danbury, West Redding, CT (2002-2003), she served as an inspiring and supportive leader. At Bay Area UU Church, Houston, TX (2003-2004) her quality of pastoral care and active listening were exceptional. Thereafter she served several interim positions at the following congregations: Williamsburg UUs, VA (2004-2005); North Shore Unitarian Church, West Vancouver, BC (2006-2007); the UU Fellowship of Northern Nevada, Reno, NV (2007-2008); the UU Fellowship of Sunnyvale, CA (2008-2009); and the Congregation of Flint, MI (2009-2010). Rev. Dr. Ranck worked to make the churches an inclusive, caring community and enabled each other the expression of values in society while consistently maintaining the goal of the congregation’s best interest.
In addition to her parish and interim ministry, Rev. Dr. Ranck contributed greatly to the formation of the new inter-district clusters with churches from the Southwest and Mid-South districts. She helped reorganize the Mid-South District Women and Religion Committee.
Her influence as a writer was outstanding in UU circles. She was the author of “Cakes for the Queen of Heaven,” a UUA curriculum used widely, and was the foremost theologian on women’s issues. She was a recipient of the Covenant of UU Pagan Society’s Fuller-Thoreau Award 1989, and the UU Women’s Federation Feminist Theology Award 1994. In her spare time, she enjoyed theatre, film, music, swimming, travel, and Jazzercise.
Shirley is survived by her children, Scott Page, James Page, Christina Bell, and Laura Van Lue, along with numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and extended family.
She will be interred with her parents in a private ceremony.
Memorial donations in Shirley’s name may be sent to:
Notes of condolence can be sent to Laura Van Lue, 122 Parkway, Niles, MI 49120.
