VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 4/19/13)—Andrew C. and Beverly C. Davison have been named the 2013 recipients of the Cora and John Sparrowk President’s Award. The award will be presented at Mission Summit 2013: An American Baptist Biennial Gathering, June 21-23, 2013, in Overland Park, Kansas, on behalf of the Board of General Ministries. The recipient(s) must be American Baptist, who have over a period of years made an exceptional and outstanding contribution to the life of Christ’s Church and who in life and service manifests richly the fruits and gifts of the Spirit. In 2011, Yosh Nakagawa was presented with the Sparrowk Award at the American Baptist Biennial in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Andrew and Beverly Davison will celebrate their 62nd wedding anniversary the last week of June. Through their years of marriage, they have served American Baptists Churches “together in ministry” in various ways. The Davisons served churches in Albany, NY, Buffalo, NY, Providence, RI, and Madison, WI, where they now make their home.

Beverly Davison served as president of American Baptist Churches USA from 1990-1991. She also served as president of the American Baptist Historical Society, president of American Baptist Women of Wisconsin, and was a member of the Board of the Baptist Joint Committee on Public Affairs (now Religious Liberty), and the Board of the American Baptist Historical Society.

Beverly Davison has also volunteered with American Baptist Women’s Ministries in numerous roles, and has served as a bible study leader and teacher on multiple occasions for varied conferences. She has been a devoted volunteer to community organizations and her local church.

She received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Vassar College, a Master of Arts from Union Theological Seminary/Columbia University, an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Keuka College, and an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Alderson-Broaddus College.

Andrew C. Davison is Pastor Emeritus of the First Baptist Church in Madison, where he served from 1963-1981. He also served in pastorates at Hope Baptist Church, Albany, NY (1949-1953), Lafayette Avenue Baptist Church, Buffalo, NY (1953-1958), and Central Baptist Church, Providence, RI (1958-1963).

Andrew Davison served on the staff of Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School in Rochester, NY, until his retirement in 1991. In the following years he served in interim pastor roles at Lake Avenue Baptist Church, Rochester, NY (1991-1992) and First Baptist Church, Rochester, NY, (1992-1993).

He served as president of the American Baptist Foreign Mission Society, now International Ministries (1972-1975), and as president of the Wisconsin Baptist State Convention (1968-1969).

He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Colgate University, a Master of Divinity from Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School and an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Keuka College.

The Davisons returned to Madison in 1998 to be near their family. They have two grown children and four grandsons.

American Baptist Churches is one of the most diverse Christian denominations today, with 5,500 local congregations comprised of 1.3 million members, across the United States and Puerto Rico, all engaged in God’s mission around the world.