wfn.org | Episcopalians: Episcopal publications receive top awards at Associated Church Pr

[dmack@episcopalchurch.org]

May 8, 2003

2003-100

Episcopalians: Episcopal publications receive top awards at 
Associated Church Pr

by James Solheim

(ENS) Publications of the Episcopal Church received many of the 
top awards at the annual convention of the Associated Church 
Press (ACP) in Indianapolis, April 27-30 under the theme, 
"Getting to the heart of our stories."

In the category for national and international newspapers,  
Episcopal Life not only took a total of 11 awards, it claimed 
more first-place awards, ACP's "Award of Excellence," than any 
other publication in this year's contest--a total of seven. It 
also received an honorable mention in the category 
Best-in-Class.

First-place winners for the coveted Best-in-Class designation 
were: Anglican Advance (Episcopal Diocese of Chicago), for 
regional newspaper; The Anglican Journal (Toronto, Ontario), for 
international or national newspaper; The Banner (Christian 
Reformed Church), for general-interest denominational magazine; 
The Other Side (an independent, ecumenical publication in 
Philadelphia), general interest magazine that is not 
denominational; Image: A Journal of the Arts & Religion (an 
independent, ecumenical publication in Seattle), for 
special-interest magazine; Seeds for the Parish (Evangelical 
Lutheran Church in America, Chicago), which won the newsletter 
category; ELCA News Service won in the news service category. 

The judges said that Anglican Advance "provides well-written and 
well-edited articles that bring together local, regional, 
national, and international news and features in a nice 
balance." They said that the Central Florida paper "contains 
well-written stories, a good mix of news and features, and a 
variety of subjects pertinent to the reader. Its graphic 
presentation is excellent."

They said that The Anglican Journal features stories "from 
across the globe in a balanced mixand delivers extremely 
well-written and well-reported stories on a fascinating variety 
of issues. Good layout and design support superb content." They 
said that Episcopal Life "honors the craft of writing and the 
diligence of good reporting in a solid mix of news, features, 
and opinion. A broad range of stories is offered on a daring mix 
of topics that are innovative and informative."

A total of 251 awards were given out in 40 categories to honor 
the best of 1,034 total entries. Of ACP's approximately 150 
publication members, a total of 73 entered this year's contest 
honoring the best work of 2002. (For a complete list of awards 
go to the ACP web site at www.theacp.org.)

Shaping hearts and minds

Craig Dykstra, vice president of religion for the 
Indianapolis-based Lilly Endowment, said in his keynote that he 
was "a constant and avid reader" of the church press and a 
"happy funder of religious publicationsI could not imagine life 
without you" because of the contributions those publications 
make. 

He said that Lilly is concerned with the wellbeing of the church 
and tries to fund institutions that express hope and 
imagination. He noted the persistent public interest in 
spirituality, a search for a different more fulfilling kind of 
life, even though it is accompanied by some ambivalence about 
organized religion. Many people are concluding that "churches 
fail to be truly religious" and are preoccupied with other 
things. He warned that's an indictment the church must address.

The most pressing challenge, according to Dykstra, is whether it 
is possible to "describe a Christian way of life that can be 
lived with integrity. What would it look like? How would it be 
lived out? What does religion have to do with real life? " He is 
convinced that the Christian tradition "still has resources 
un-mined" and that new possibilities are emerging. Lilly tries 
to support those creative forces that contribute to vital 
ministry, producing a new generation of church leaders that 
could be a force for rebuilding the church. 

"You are an indispensable force for the wellbeing of the 
church," he said. "Your role is to inform and shape the minds 
and hearts--and action--of the people of God and their 
churches."

The Lilly Endowment sponsored workshops on the opening day of 
the convention, sharing its research on trends in Christian 
practice and innovative programs that are making major 
contributions to religious life in America.

Community of professionals

The ACP elected Victoria Rebeck, director of communications for 
the Minnesota Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, 
as president, and Jerry van Marter of the Presbyterian News 
Service as vice president. 

Believed to be the oldest religious press association in North 
America, the Associated Church Press, founded in 1916, is a 
community of communication professionals brought together by 
faithfulness to their craft and by a common task of reflecting, 
describing, and supporting the life of faith and the Christian 
community. Among its purposes are: (1) To provide mutual support 
and encouragement, fostered by personal and professional 
relationships; (2) To promote higher standards of communication 
through professional growth opportunities and recognition of 
excellence; (3) To join in interfaith and public discourse with 
those who seek to build a more just society for all God's 
people.

Nearly 200 publications, websites, news services, and 
individuals are ACP members, representing a combined circulation 
of several million. Publication members from the U.S., Canada, 
and English-speaking communities abroad make up most of ACP's 
membership and represent the full diversity of Christian belief 
and practice.

------

--James Solheim is director of the Episcopal News Service.