Spiritual Care Development Director
Resume:
Santa Cruz, CA *****
Email: ****@***********.***
• CHAPLAIN AND COUNSELOR: MYRTLE RECOVERY HOUSE 2019-PRESENT
• Provider of spiritual care and direction for a 14-person sober living and recovery house in Santa Cruz
• FOUNDER OF SWEATY SHEEP MINISTRIES — 2010-PRESENT: WWW.SWEATYSHEEP.COM
• Launching and leading Sweaty Sheep has allowed me to work alongside a variety of ecumenical religious organizations at the national, regional, and congregational level, as well engaged me with a variety of social subgroups (disabled, houseless, addiction rehab, etc). Our programatic mission, “to utilize art and recreation to overcome social, economic, and faith barriers in the creation of a more collaborative Christian community,” keeps us making and riding waves in Santa Cruz, CA — and the program continues to promote play as a means of which to amplify the offerings of a diverse community of partnering agencies while we provide recreational programing deliberately designed to inspire social re-integration, self- empowerment, transitional employment, and faith formation.
• REGIONAL AFFILIATE OF INCLUSIVITY FOR THE NATIONAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (USA) 2015-PRESENT:
• This position allows me the opportunity to interact with a diverse network of churches, nonprofit, and Gov’t agencies throughout the larger Bay Area. The focus of my work with alongside PCUSA lies in helping congregations shift their perceptions around those struggling with houseless- ness, mental illness, or disabilities so to make their community more inclusive, their offerings more assessable, and their outreach more authentic.
• COUNTY OF SANTA CRUZ ‘MINISTER OF LONELINESS’ (2018-2020):
• My passion and work alongside two despondent populations, those living with disabilities and those experiencing houselessness, led to a contractual role with the County of Santa Cruz, as the ‘Minister of Loneliness.’ Over the course of two years, I worked with the County to redesign their existing supportive service program from one of care taking (disempowering) to companionship (empowering.) An example of my work can be further viewed at: https://www.santacruzsentinel.com/2018/12/17/santa-cruz-effort-aims-to-match-employment-care-social-needs/
• UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST FELLOWSHIP OF SANTA CRUZ: MINISTER OF INTERFAITH RELATIONS — 2019-PRESENT:
• Throughout my undergraduate and graduate studies in theology, I developed a strong appreciation for interfaith relations. This passion inspired my work with the UUA Fellowship of SC and the USCS Interfaith Council. I have proceeded to led educational workshops, worship services and panel discussions for a variety of congregations, schools (Ie: Valley Christian and Gateway Schools), and tech companies including Facebook & Google.
• DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR: HOMELESS GARDEN PROJECT SANTA CRUZ 2015-2016
• .Upon first moving to Santa Cruz I dove into the nonprofit community via work with the longstanding ‘Homeless Garden Project.’ This role allowed me to supervise several UCSC and San Jose State student interns, build relationships with the County’s nonprofit foundation and homeless advocacy networks, and gain valuable experience in funding a large scale nonprofit. I still do volunteer development work with the garden, and also the commonrootsfarm.org community, and this work creates a trusted bond with our city’s nonprofit sector.
• COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF SANTA CRUZ: CONTRACTUAL NONPROFIT BUSINESS CONSULTANT: 2015-PRESENT:
• I have been part of the foundation’s contractual consultant network for several years as a means of staying engaged with the larger nonprofit sector of our city. This continues to introduce me to a variety of agencies and it also provides first hand experience designing/implementing sustainability plans.
• LOUISVILLE THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY: LECTURER OF INNOVATIVE MINISTRY 2013-2015:
• Following business school, I spent a year working alongside a tenured professor of LPTS co-facilitating a course that taught basic business principles and social entrepreneurship to graduate seminary students. I wish that every seminary student could take time to attend business school; however, this not being the case, I was excited to be given the opportunity to design a workshop that I’ve hosted periodically for pastors that can be viewed at: innovativeministrytraining.wordpress.com
• UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE HOSPITAL CHAPLAIN (PALLIATIVE CARE & PSYCH 2010:
• I worked specifically with the Palliative Care and Psych units while pursuing my Clinical Pastoral Education. My responsibilities during this time included patient counseling, care management, suicide prevention, grief support, etc. This was one of the most spiritually difficult and enhancing experiences of my life. Education:
Carson Newman College, Jefferson City TN (2003-2006) Dual BA English (Special Education emphasis,) BA Religion, Minor in Recreation Louisville Presbyterian Seminary (2007-2010) MDIV : Concentration in World Religion & Philosophy (Presidential Preaching Award winner) Spalding University, Louisville, KY (2013-1015) Masters in Nonprofit Business Communication Present Volunteer Roles in the Community:
• UCSC Interfaith Commission member
• Committee of Development Chair/Chaplain: www.commonrootsfarm.org
• Board of Directors: National Presbyterian Church to End Homelessness
•National Presbyterian Church Committee of Disability Inclusion
• Affiliate Board Member: Shared Adventures Santa Cruz
• Living Evolution Experiential/Outdoor therapy program — Volunteer Counselour
• Committee on Development Chair: Santa Cruz Association of Faith Communities
“If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away.”
~Henry David Thoreau
REV. RYAN ALTHAUS, MSBC; MDIV,
Recent Publications:
• From Emaciated to Emancipated: 2021.https://
www.amazon.com/Emaciated-Emancipated-
Story-Skinny-Mango/dp/191******* Reference
memoir on Eating Disorder Recovery.
• https://www.amazon.com/Expanse-Homos-
Hobos-Holy-Hereafter/dp/B0C9SP2VXQ A
Novel on Self-Acceptance and Faith
• Althaus, Ryan. Wally the Wave: 2020. https://
www.amazon.com/dp/B08BCD4B6T
Childrens book on social inclusivity and end of life.
• Articles: www.thesurfingmango.com/copy-of-blog
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