CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Several members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) took awards home from the Associated Church Press (ACP) Convention April 18-21 at the Novotel Toronto Centre, Toronto. The ACP presented awards in 72 categories of religious journalism work in 2003.
The ACP is an 88-year-old professional association of 200 publications, news services, Web sites and individuals, representing a combined circulation of more than 28 million.
Seeds for the Parish, the ELCA's resource paper edited by Katherine Sprutta Elliott, ELCA Department for Communication, tied for third place in ACP's "Best of Class" newsletter category.
The Lutheran, the magazine of the ELCA, received nine ACP awards. It won two first-place awards -- "Born into War" by Martin Adler for photography in a magazine, and another for art accompanying, "Is Homosexuality Another Expression of God's Creation?"
The Lutheran took second place in ACP's "theological reflection, short format" category for David L. Miller's "Where Christmas Comes." Miller is editor of The Lutheran. Staff of the magazine took second place in ACP's magazine convention coverage category for "ELCA Assembly: Prayers for Healing."
The magazine won third place in ACP's scholarly article category for Larry Rasmussen's "The American Way in the Presence of Fear." It also tied for third place in ACP's "feature article, denominational, general interest" category for Robert Blezard's "Out of the Fog, into the Sunshine"; theme section category for Gail Ramshaw and the staff's "Beyond Words"; personal experience, long format category for Sonia C. Solomonson's "Imprint for Eternity"; and professional resource category for Julie B. Sevig's "Living Water." Solomonson is managing editor, The Lutheran. Sevig is editor for the magazine's "Congregations and Community" section.
Lutheran Woman Today, the magazine of Women of the ELCA, earned six awards. It received first place in ACP's "feature article, denominational special interest" category for Deborah McConomy-Wallace's "For All the Saints."
The magazine was given two second-place honors -- one for Robin Mattison's Bible study, "I Thank God for You: Forming Community with Paul," and another in ACP's "magazine design, 3-or-4 color story or spread" category for On Track Communication's "Who Is Like God?"
Lutheran Woman Today's October 2003 issue about fair trade was tied for third place in ACP's "in-depth coverage, magazine" category. It also tied for third in ACP's "theme issue: magazine" category for "Fair Trade," edited by Nancy J. Goldberger and Barbara Hofmaier, and in the organization's "devotional/inspirational" category for the magazine's January-February 2003 issue, "The History of Us," by Marj Leegard. Goldberger serves as editor and Hofmaier is former managing editor for Lutheran Woman Today.
Cafe: Stirring the Spirit Within" took third place in ACP's "Acorn Award." Cafe is an online magazine (or e-zine) edited by Goldberger and designed by Elizabeth McBride. McBride also serves as editorial assistant, Lutheran Woman Today.
The ELCA News Service, Department for Communication, tied for third in ACP's "in-depth coverage, newspaper, newsletter, news service or Web site" category for "2003 ELCA Ecumenical Journey" by John R. Brooks.
The May-June 2003 issue of Lutheran Partners took second place for "Contemporary Christian Music: What Can We Learn?" by Mark Allan Powell under ACP's "feature article, denominational, special interest" category. Lutheran Partners is a magazine published by the ELCA Division for Ministry.
The Forum Letter took two second-place honors -- one for Russell E. Saltzman's "A Press Release for Congress" in ACP's "editorial and opinion, newspaper or news service" category, and another for "The Mark Hanson Show: ELCA Lutherans in Milwaukee" under the "convention coverage, newsletter, news service or Website" category.
ACP members also elected officers and board members. Silvia Chavez was elected ACP treasurer. She is director for budget and administration, The Lutheran.
Sonia C. Solomonson, managing editor, The Lutheran, was elected to serve a three-year term on the ACP board.
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Information about the Associated Church Press is available at http://www.theacp.org on the Web.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org
http://www.elca.org/news
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About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 2.8 million members in more than 8,500 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.
For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
Public Relations Manager
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
