by Shabria Caldwell
The American Baptist Churches USA has a rich history concerning its diversity, ranging from gender leadership to minority leadership. Ruth McKinney (1900-1966) is a proud representation of both as she is perhaps one of the most prominent names in ABC history. An influential speaker and leader, McKinney is the first Black woman to hold a top office in the American Baptist Convention.
McKinney’s roots were an early indication of her Baptist leadership. The daughter of a reverend, Annie Ruth Berry was born in Birmingham, Alabama to Reverend Samuel and Ada Virginia Berry. She was educated at both Spelman College and Columbia University. Ruth was working as a college teacher when she married her husband, Wade, in 1924.
Wade Hampton McKinney was born in Cleveland, Georgia, in 1892. He attended Atlanta Baptist College Academy, Morehouse College, and Colgate Rochester Theological Seminary. Furthermore, he served in the U.S. Army during World War I. Ruth and Wade McKinney can be reverenced as one of the many Black power couples of their time.
With the migration of African Americans to northern cities in the 1920s and 1930s in search of industrial work, many flooded into the Cedar-Central neighborhood of Cleveland, Ohio. This added to the congregational numbers of neighborhood churches. Most recognizable was Antioch Baptist Church because of its leadership role in the community. Antioch provided financial support for other neighborhood churches, and supported the NAACP.
Reverend Wade McKinney was called upon to lead Antioch Baptist Church in 1928. He is revered as one of the most important and influential leaders in Antioch’s history, serving the Church for 28 years. During that period, Ruth worked as a teacher at the Church School and also served as the youth choir director for 33 years.
Ruth and Wade were pivotal figures not only in the Christian Church community, but also within the African American community as civic leaders. In 1947, Reverend Wade worked to establish a credit union to aid returning African American veterans as well as local residents in securing loans. In addition, he served as a spokesman for the community, leading many voter registration campaigns and serving on the Cuyahoga County Grand Jury.
As the wife of an esteemed minister, and as an achieved and educated woman, Ruth became active in the affairs of religious organizations across the nation. She was in great demand as a speaker. Beginning in 1952, she began broadcasting 1-minute radio “Thot-O-Grams” which included brief, inspirational messages under the supports of the United Church Women of Cleveland.
In addition, McKinney was also a member of the vice presidents board in the National Council of American Baptist Women in the Division of Christian Service during the mid-50s. Her responsibilities included enlisting women in active service within the ministry.
Independently, McKinney saw the importance of the woman’s presence in the church. In the November, 1956 The American Baptist Woman newsletter McKinney wrote, “Many [women] merely have their names on the church roll; others, attend the Sunday worship service, but their service through any organization of the church is not given. Think of this great loss in women power!”
Photo credit: McKinney, Ann Ruth Berry: 1953, by Herman Seid. From the Cleveland Press Notable Blacks of Cleveland collection, Cleveland State University, Michael Schwartz Library, Special Collections. Courtesy of the Cleveland Memory Project
