VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 02/05/08) - The Rev. William C. Gaventa Jr., a longtime American Baptist institutional chaplain endorsed through National Ministries, has been awarded the prestigious COMISS Medal for his 30-year ministry to persons with developmental disabilities and the persons and systems that serve them.
The medal is the highest honor bestowed by The COMISS Network, a national, ecumenical support and advocacy network for chaplain and pastoral care ministry in specialized settings. Previous honorees include renowned Catholic theologian/author Henri Nouwen and celebrated developmental psychologist Erik Erikson; Gaventa is the fifth recipient of the award since its inception in 1988.
The organization's selection committee commended the "length and depth" of Gaventa's contribution in this specialized field, his commitment to connecting community and congregation, and "his creativity in taking clinical pastoral education 'outside the walls of the hospital' and into community agencies."
Gaventa currently serves as director of Community and Congregational Supports at the Elizabeth M. Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities in New Brunswick, N.J., and as associate professor of pediatrics at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey.
At the Boggs Center, Gaventa oversees training for community services staff and workforce development, initiatives in cultural competence, aging/end of life issues, supervision of a clinical pastoral education program, and inclusive congregational supports. He also coordinates a training and technical assistance team for the New Jersey Self Directed Supports Projects.
Prior to his current service, Gaventa was coordinator of Family Support for the Georgia Developmental Disabilities Council and chaplain and coordinator of Religious Services for the Monroe Developmental Center in New York.
Gaventa has provided perspectives and insights into developmental disabilities and related areas as editor of the Journal of Religion and Disability and Health, and he has authored journal articles, book chapters, monographs, resource collections and booklets.
He has received both the Service Award and Presidential Award from the American Association of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD), an organization he has served in a volunteer capacity since 1985 as executive secretary of the Religion and Spirituality Division.
Also a recipient of National Ministries' Merit Award for Institutional Chaplaincy at the American Baptist Churches USA 1981 Biennial, Gaventa holds degrees from Stetson University in Florida and Union Theological Seminary in New York City.
When he accepted the COMISS award in January, Gaventa emphasized the biblical mandate and foundation for his work: "We are not involved in 'special ministries to so-called special people,' but in the much older and deeper task of hospitality to the stranger. In a so-called 'normal' world, a person with a disability, and in particular an intellectual disability, is a perfect 'stranger.' In issues of welcoming them, and making a place in our faith communities, we learn about all of us...."
Ministry "that doesn't take into account social context," he said, "is hobbled, but especially so in the area of disability where other people's lives are diagnosed, defined, and bound by what is considered 'typical' and 'normal.'"
The Rev. Dr. George Langhorne, currently on medical leave as endorsing executive of National Ministries' Chaplaincy and Pastoral Counseling Services, serves as chair of The COMISS Network. The Rev. Harry Simmons, chair of the American Baptist Committee on Chaplains and Pastoral Counselors, represented ABCUSA at the award presentation.
The Rev. Rhonda J. Cushman, acting executive of National Ministries' Chaplaincy and Pastoral Counseling Services-along with Langhorne and all American Baptist-endorsed chaplains and pastoral counselors-congratulates Chaplain Gaventa for his significant ministry: "Bill Gaventa exemplifies a deeply rooted faith; a prophetic passion for justice; a consistent devotion to the least, the underestimated and the overlooked; and effectiveness in working for change in society. We are proud to be associated with him; the honor he has received challenges us to do better."
Andrew C. Jayne American Baptist Churches USA Mission Resource Development http://www.abc-usa.org/