wfn.org | Religious Journalism Awards

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CONTACT: Linda Green				 (10-31-63-71B){189}
	    Nashville, Tenn.(615) 742-5470		 March 30, 1998

United Methodist Communications announces 
recipients of religious journalism awards

	NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS)-- Three African-American women are the
recipients of two annual academic awards offered by United Methodist
Communications for study in religious journalism.
	The awards -- one for undergraduate study and the other for
graduate work -- are for the 1998-99 academic year.
	The $6,000 Stoody-West Fellowship for graduate study in
religious journalism is typically given annually to one person, however
a runner-up is also receiving an award for the coming academic year. The
fellowship is for study at an accredited graduate school or department
of journalism.
	Faith Elizabeth Green, a student at Harvard Divinity School in
Cambridge, Mass., will receive the $6,000 Stoody-West Fellowship.
In addition, runner-up Maureen LaChelle Jenkins, a student at United
Methodist-related Garrett-Evangelical Theological School in Evanston,
Ill., will receive $2,500.
	The scholarship committee decided both women deserve the
fellowship, so it decided to award a runner-up, according to Wil Bane, a
staff executive at United Methodist Communications.
	Green, a member of Hope United Methodist Church in Southfield,
Mich., began reporting professionally at a young age. She has worked in
radio, television and print, and said she has seen religion move from
the back pages of newspapers to "touch all aspects of American life"
through national news journals, TV programs and radio talk shows.
	"It is important to prepare people of faith to help relay the
message of religion to the masses," she said.
	As a reporter and student of divinity, Green is preparing to
specialize in religious journalism. She hopes to have a national TV talk
show that addresses secular issues from a faith perspective. She said
she dreams of moderating a network broadcast that would inform people of
religious views on contemporary issues.
"I want to avoid the stigma of televangelism 
. . . (and) create a rich, educational environment for constructive
religious dialogue."
	Jenkins, a first-year student working on a master's degree in
theological studies at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, is also
a reporter for the Chicago Sun-Times.
A religious journalist's role is similar to that of a minister,
missionary or Sunday School teacher, she said. "All of these work for
God's glory by sharing His truth; in my case, it's the sharing of such
truths through the written word."
	Jenkins, a member and managing editor of the newsletter of
Second Baptist Church in Evanston, envisions a career that goes beyond
the basics of church politics and addresses issues of concern for
numerous people. 
	The Stoody-West Fellowship honors the Rev. Arthur West and the
late Rev. Ralph Stoody, who were staff executives of United Methodist
Communications or one of its predecessor agencies.
	The undergraduate scholarship is going to Adrienne Philia
Samuels, a Chicago native and a student in the Medill School of
Journalism at Northwestern University in Evanston.
Samuels is the recipient of the $2,500 Leonard M. Perryman
Communications Scholarship for Ethnic Minority Students. The scholarship
aids U.S ethnic minority college students who will be juniors or seniors
and who plan a career in religious communications. 
	The scholarship honors the late Leonard M. Perryman, a
journalist for the United Methodist Church for more than 30 years. He
died in 1983. 
	Samuels, a member of Mt. Hebron Missionary Baptist Church in
Chicago, most recently completed an internship with the San Francisco
Examiner, where she covered religious news.
	"I think it is important for people to know about different
religions," she said. "By understanding someone's religion, you
understand them, their culture and their way of life. . . . Then a
cultural, and perhaps racial, bridge can be crossed."
	As a journalist, Samuels said she can show the world a broad
view of religion. "Every story written helps erase the ignorance of the
masses. And with ignorance out of the way, we can all get along."
	For information on 1999-2000 scholarships, contact: Fellowship
Committee, United Methodist Communications, Public Media Division, P.O.
Box 320, Nashville, TN 37202-0320. E-mail: Scholarships@umcom.umc.org.
Phone: Jackie Vaughan at (615) 742-5140.

United Methodist News Service
(615)742-5470
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