ABHMS Board Seeks Nominations for 2017 Ministry Awards

VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 11/21/16)—The board of American Baptist Home Mission Societies (ABHMS) seeks nominations for 2017 ministry awards that honor American Baptist individuals, churches or other organizations for exceptional faithfulness in ministry.

The awards will be announced in conjunction with the American Baptist Biennial Mission Summit 2017 to be held June 30-July 2 in Portland, Ore.

Awards are as follows:

Edwin T. Dahlberg Peace and Justice Award to an individual, church or organization for outstanding work for peace and justice;
Jitsuo Morikawa Evangelism Award to a layperson for outstanding leadership in holistic evangelism;
Rosa O. Hall Rural and Small Town Award to a pastor for exceptional effectiveness in rural or small town ministry;
Edward H. Rhoades Urban Ministry Award to a pastor for exceptional effectiveness in urban ministry;
Richard Hoiland Local Christian Education Award to an individual for faithful, effective leadership in Christian education;
Luther Wesley Smith Education Award to an individual for faithful, effective leadership in strengthening Christian education at an American Baptist-related college or seminary;
Kenneth L. Cober Regional Discipleship Award to an individual for faithful, effective leadership in discipleship education in an American Baptist region;
Newton C. Fetter Higher Education and Campus Ministry Award to an individual for significant innovation in campus ministry;
Suzan Johnson Cook Religious Freedom Award to an individual, church or organization for leadership in defending God-given religious liberty for all;
Institutional Chaplaincy Award to an American Baptist-endorsed institutional chaplain for faithful and effective pastoral and spiritual care in an institutional setting, such as a hospital or college;
Military Chaplaincy Award to an American Baptist-endorsed military chaplain for faithful and effective pastoral and spiritual care in the U.S. military; and
Pastoral Counseling Award to an American Baptist-endorsed pastoral counselor for faithful and effective pastoral counseling.

“In presenting these awards, we recognize the invaluable contributions of American Baptists past and present who have modeled for us the way of Christlike servanthood—who have inspired and encouraged us in our faith walk, as they have humbly shared their time, talents and resources, all in the name of the One who came not to be served, but to serve,” says Dr. Clifford I. Johnson, president of the board of ABHMS.

Nominations must include a complete nomination application form and two letters of reference of 200-300 words each, including details of the nominee’s accomplishments and a statement about the reason he/she or the church/organization is deserving of the award.

The nomination application is available online at http://www.abhms.org/ > Resources > “ABHMS 2017 Ministry Awards nomination information.” To receive a hard-copy application by mail or to receive the nomination application in Spanish, contact Nadine Hasenecz at nadine.hasenecz@abhms.org or 1-800-222-3872, x2041.

Nomination applications and letters of reference can be submitted online; sent via postal mail to Sue Peterman, American Baptist Home Mission Societies, P.O. Box 851, Valley Forge, PA 19482-0851; or faxed to Peterman at 610-768-2470.

Deadline for nominations is Jan. 17, 2017. Submissions must be date stamped or postmarked no later than midnight on Jan. 17, 2017.

American Baptist Home Mission Societies partners with American Baptists in answering God’s call to promote Christian faith across the United States and Puerto Rico to cultivate Christ-centered leaders and disciples, and heal and transform communities, by developing aligned action networks and programs.

American Baptist Churches is one of the most diverse Christian denominations today, with approximately 5,000 local congregations comprised of 1.3 million members, across the United States and Puerto Rico, all engaged in God’s mission around the world.