Synod of the Pacific Recognizes Valuable "GEM"

Ruby Ann Lelea is as rare and precious as her name. Ruby, know by all as Ani, was recognized Friday evening after the worship service of the May Synod meeting for her forty years of service to the Synod of the Pacific.

Born and raised in San Francisco , California , Ani attended Donaldina Cameron House and became a member of the Presbyterian Church of Chinatown at age fourteen. She went on to Warren Wilson Jr. College and received her BA in Fine Arts degree from Berea College . In 1964, Ani began her work for the Synod of California, the predecessor to Synod of the Pacific. Currently she works as Treasurer of the Synod, Coordinator of the Custodial/MDC Service and Administrative Associate to the Synod Executive, Rob Brink.

Ani is very dedicated to the Presbyterian Church and has served on all levels. There have even been periods when she served all levels at the same time. She has served Redwoods Presbyterian Church, Larkspur, California , for many years as Clerk of Session as well as other committees and service work. For Redwoods Presbytery she just completed her term on the Committee on Ministry and has moved recently to serving on the Nominating Committee. She enjoys her work on the General Assembly Advocacy Committee for Women's Concerns (where she represents the lay workers in the church), working with Sexual Misconduct policies and the Clergy Women's Report. Ani feels that her service has provided her with a wide scope of understanding of the church as a whole.

Ani has a daughter, Leanne, and a son, Jeffrie, who is the Youth Director at a Presbyterian Church in California . She enjoys traveling, friends and family. Ani knows no strangers.