Women of the ELCA staff received a total of 22 awards from two religion communicator organizations, including three Category Winner and five Award of Excellence awards.
The Religion Communicators Council and Associated Church Press honored Women of the ELCA, Boldcafé and Gather magazine for work completed in 2024.
DeRose-Hinkhouse Memorial Awards from Religion Communicators Council:
Magazines: Single Work award of excellence, Gather magazine, May/June 2024 issue, Elizabeth Hunter, editor; Cindy Novak, managing editor; Elise Seyfried, contributing editor.
Newsletters: Single Work award of merit, Boldcafé: “Do I check the Lutheran box?” October 2024, the Rev. Dr. Becca Ehrlich, author; Elizabeth McBride, editor and designer.
Blogs: Single Work category winner, Boldcafé, “Sabbath for this year and beyond,” January 2024, Dr. Crystal Hall, author; Elizabeth McBride, editor and designer.
Magazine: Article or Story Single Work category winner, Gather magazine, “War impacts a Lutheran-run hospital in the Holy Land,” Cornelia Kaestner-Meyer, author; Elizabeth Hunter, editor; Cindy Novak, managing editor.
Magazine: Article or Story Single Work award of merit, Gather magazine, “Trenches and flowers: The power of hope in Kharkiv, Ukraine,” Cornelia Kaestner-Meyer, author; Elizabeth Hunter, editor; Cindy Novak, managing editor.
Articles and Stories: Single Work award of merit, Gather magazine, “The recording,” Deacon Adrainne Gray, author; Elizabeth Hunter, editor; Cindy Novak, managing editor
Articles and Stories: Single Work certificate of appreciation, Gather magazine, “Patterns of War: Tracing the ways women and children are most affected,” Dr. Laura Gifford, author; Elizabeth Hunter, editor; Cindy Novak, managing editor.
Magazine Cover or Feature Item: Single Work category winner, Gather magazine, “Faithful eating: Where all have a place at the table,” Dr. Ryan P. Cumming, writer; Elizabeth Hunter, editor; Cindy Novak, managing editor
Magazine Cover or Feature Item: Single Work award of merit, Gather magazine, “Patterns of war: Tracing the ways women and children are most affected,” Dr. Laura Gifford, author; Elizabeth Hunter, editor; Cindy Novak, managing editor
Fundraising certificate of appreciation, “2122: A Campaign for Katie’s Fund, Dr. Jennifer Hockenbery, author; Elizabeth Hunter, editor; Cindy Novak, editor. Elizabeth McBride, designer.
Best of the Church Press Awards from Associated Church Press
In-Depth Coverage award of excellence, Gather magazine, “Mental health resource,” Elise Seyfried, author and contributing editor; Elizabeth Hunter, editor; Cindy Novak, managing editor.
Personal Experience (short format) award of merit, Gather magazine, “Rise. Pause. Flow. Live,” Kristina Diaz, author, Elizabeth Hunter, editor; Cindy Novak, managing editor.
Personal Experience (short format) honorable mention, Gather magazine, “Living faithfully: Honoring and protecting the earth,” Roben Itchoak, author; Elizabeth Hunter, editor; Cindy Novak, managing editor.
Department award of merit, Gather magazine, “Family Matters,” the Rev. Lisa Smith, author; Elizabeth Hunter, editor; Cindy Novak, managing editor.
Professional Resource award of excellence, Gather magazine, “Compassionate companions: Congregations can play a role in mental health ministry,” Elise Seyfried, author and contributing editor; Elizabeth Hunter, editor; Cindy Novak, managing editor.
Humor award of merit, Gather magazine, “Of monkeys, tears and the Wisdom of God: What I learned on the mountain path home,” the Rev. Dr. Christa von Zychlin, author; Elizabeth Hunter, editor; Cindy Novak, managing editor.
Biblical Interpretation or Lectionary Reflection (long format) award of excellence, Gather magazine, “Beginning with rest: Following the Shepherd’s roadmap,” the Rev. Jennifer Ginn, author, Elizabeth Hunter, editor; Cindy Novak, managing editor.
Biblical Interpretation or Lectionary Reflection (short format) award of merit, Boldcafé, “Faith Reflections: Love becomes our story,” the Rev. Minna Bothwell, author; Elizabeth McBride, editor and designer.
Bible Resource award of merit, Gather magazine, “After certainty: A Biblical guide,” the Rev. Meghan Johnston Aelabouni, author; Elizabeth Hunter, editor; Cindy Novak, managing editor.
Bible Resource honorable mention, Gather magazine, “Scripture and nature: Teachers of faith,” the Rev. Sara Olson-Smith, author; Elizabeth Hunter, editor; Cindy Novak, managing editor.
Video Series award of merit, Gather magazine, “Scripture and nature: Teachers of faith Bible study four-part video series,” the Rev. Sara Olson-Smith, author; Elizabeth Hunter, editor; Cindy Novak, managing editor.
Best Disapproving Letter to the Editor, Gather magazine, anonymous author.