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Inter-faith Convention

April 8, 2000
Adventist Press Service (APD)
Christian B. Schaeffler, Editor-in-chief
Fax +41-61-261 61 18
APD@stanet.ch
http://www.stanet.ch/APD
CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland
07/2000

Adventist Communicators Receive Awards at U.S. 
Inter-faith Convention

Chicago, Illinois, USA.    Dick Duerksen, director 
of spiritual development for Florida Hospital, was 
among the winners at the annual DeRose-Hinkhouse 
Awards for excellence in religious communication 
held March 31. A CD-ROM produced by Duerksen, 
which utilises a high-tech combination of sound, 
graphics and video footage, took top honours in 
the electronic communications category, with 
judges praising its high production quality as 
well as its content. The CD portrays the holistic 
approach to medical care delivered by Celebration 
Health, a new hospital in the Florida Hospital 
group. It also emphasises the need for a strong 
spiritual component in the healing process.

"We're very honoured that this piece was 
recognised," says Duerksen, who adds their goal 
with the CD was to portray something of the 
"essence of God." 

More than 20 members of the national press, 
including television, print and radio journalists, 
were also recognised at the ceremony for their 
handling of religious issues during the last year.  
Among the recipients of these Wilbur Awards were a 
TIME magazine journalist, a United Media 
cartoonist, and the NBC news show Dateline.
 
David Smith, writer/producer for the daily 
broadcasts of Adventist Media Center program Voice 
of Prophecy, also received an honorary Wilbur 
Award in recognition of the seven years he has 
served as national co-ordinator for the Awards.

The ceremony was part of a four-day meeting of 
more than 1,200 religious communicators from 
around the world. A diverse range of faith groups 
was represented, from United Methodist to 
Episcopalian, Mennonite to Baha'i, Lutheran to 
Roman Catholic. Organised by the international 
Religion Communicators Council, the meetings 
discussed communication and media techniques and 
explored new communication technology.

Charlotte McClure, public relations director for 
the Seventh-day Adventist Church, was one of more 
than 30 Adventist communicators who attended the 
event. "It was an opportunity to meet with people 
of different faiths, to worship together and to 
learn together," she says. "All the participants 
are facing a similar challenge-how to communicate 
their faith stories in an increasingly secular-
minded world." 

The Rev. Dr. Jesse Jackson, the keynote speaker 
for the March 29 opening of the convention, 
challenged religious communicators from all faiths 
to make a difference in society by being "lights 
that shine in dark places."