by Staff
The Associated Church Press (ACP) and the Religion Communicators Council (RCC) recognized the communication ministry of Women of the ELCA for its excellence at a joint convention held earlier this month. The ACP and the RCC are professional organizations for those engaged in communication work within faith communities.
“That the communication work of Women of the ELCA is honored year after year speaks to the strength, discipline, and creativity of the organization’s communication staff,” observed Linda Post Bushkofsky, executive director. “Their work, of the highest caliber, supports the women of this organization as they live out the mission and purpose of Women of the ELCA.”
Associated Church Press Awards
Gather and Café, two publications of Women of the ELCA, were recognized in the 2021 Best of the Church Press Awards of the Associated Church Press this month. The Associated Church Press brings together professional communicators with a common commitment to excellence in journalism as a means to describe, reflect, and support the life of faith and the Christian community.
The video series by Christa Von Zychlin that accompanied her four-part Bible study “Journeys with angels” garnered an award of merit for Gather magazine in the video series category.
The cover of the May 2021 issue of Gather received an award of merit in the magazine cover category. It was illustrated by Cody F. Miller.
In the Bible resource category, Gather received two awards. Von Zychlin’s Bible study “Journeys with angels” received an honorable mention and Sara Olson-Smith’s study “The gift of the Holy Spirit: A divine wild goose chase” received an award of excellence.
In the category Biblical Interpretation or Lectionary Reflection (long format), Gather received an award of excellence for Mihee Kim-Kort’s article in the November-December 2021 issue, “Our vocation: It’s about learning to sing.”
In the category Biblical Interpretation or Lectionary Reflection (short format), Gather received an honorable mention for Cheryl M. Peterson’s article, “Weight-lifting and the mustard seed” which appeared in the January-February 2021 issue.
In the Personal Experience – Long Format category, Gather received an honorable mention for the article, “Always a child of God: A conversation between a mom and a pastor,” written by Jane Schuchardt and Meredith Lovell Keseley that appeared in the May 2021 issue.
Elizabeth Hunter is editor of Gather. Until recently, Sarah Carson was managing editor.
“We are grateful for the Associated Church Press’ recognition of the work of Gather magazine’s authors, artists, and staff,” said Hunter. “It’s especially exciting to have an award for the video resources. We launched the video supplements when the pandemic began, and our authors have been so willing to do this. It has helped people who, due to the pandemic, couldn’t meet in person for Bible study or couldn’t invite the Bible study author to speak to their synodical women’s organization.” Hunter continued, “Gather’s Bible studies, articles, Christian art, and free video resources make each issue of the Women of the ELCA’s magazine a great way to gather our hearts and minds ‘for faith and action.’”
The BYOD monthly dinners hosted by Café (boldcafe.org) received an honorable mention in the integrated communications category. Café’s editor is Elizabeth McBride.
“The Boldcafe dinners have been a wonderful way to connect readers with writers of the publication,” noted McBride. “Using this digital format, we’ve been able to connect with new audiences who have become friends of not only Boldcafe.org, but the organization as well.”
Religion Communicators Council awards
In the Periodicals class, Café was honored in the category Articles and Stories – Series for three articles that appeared in Café in March, April, and August of 2021. They were “The uncertainty of in-between time” by Becca Ehrlich, “Lamenting together” by Sarah S. Scherschligt, and “The spirituality of tension,” by Emily Carson.
The RCC is an inter-faith association of communications professionals working for and with a diverse group of faith-based organizations in the fields of communications, public relations, advertising, and development.