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Past General Assemblies:
2006: Orlando, Fla.
2005: Hunt Valley, Md.
2004: St. Louis, Mo.
2003: Jackson, Miss.
2002: Tampa, Fla.
2001: Oakland, Calif.

Provisional Minutes of the 2006 General Assembly in Orlando

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Awards Banquet

Each General Assembly of the National Council of Churches and Church World Service makes time to honor those who have worked in important ways to bring about the visible unity of the church of Jesus Christ.

Honorees in 2007 included:

The 2006 Joseph Cardinal Bernardin Award: The Rev. Dr. Diane Kessler
The 2007 Joseph Cardinal Bernardin Award: The Rev. Dr. Clifton Kirkpatrick

This annual award is given to a clergy person whose life and work have significantly advanced the cause of unity among the churches in the U.S.A. and Internationally. The award is a tribute to the memory of Cardinal Joseph Bernardin who worked diligently for social justice throughout his distinguished career.

Dr. Kirkpatrick will be presented the award at the 2008 Assembly.

Dr. Diane Kessler recently retired as the Executive Director of the Massachusetts Council of Churches. She has made numerous contributions to ecumenical ministries worldwide and is the editor of the official record of the 8th Assembly of the World Council of Churches in Harare, Zimbabwe.

The 2007 J. Irwin Miller Award: Ms. Mia Adjali

This annual award is given to a lay person who has been a witness, through action in the world, to justice and other values affirmed by the Christian faith, and who has demonstrated a commitment to church unity. The award is a tribute to J. Irwin Miller, a businessman, layman and former president of the National Council of Churches.
 

Else "Mia" Adjali was the Executive Secretary for Global Concerns in the Women's Division of the General Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church. Her work has been in the fields of peace, human rights and international justice.

Awards of Excellence

These awards are given annually by the Assembly to recognize individuals whose life and work demonstrate extraordinary achievement in furthering the ecumenical movement, meeting human needs, advocating for peace and justice, and providing a strong prophetic voice in the Christian community.

The honorees:

Ms. Janie Schildge
Rev. N. J. L'Heureux, Jr.
Trenton Ecumenical Area Ministry
The Philippine Working Group and the National Council of Churches in the Philippines.

Janie Schildge has been the volunteer coordinator of the Red Bank, N.J., CROP Hunger Walk since 1984. Under her outstanding leadership, the funds raised for CROP have grown from $37,500 in 1988 to $125,000 in 2006.

The Rev. N. J. "Skip" L'Heureux, Jr., is Executive Director of the Queens Federation of Churches which relates to over 700 congregations.

The Philippine Working Group and the National Council of Churches in the Philippines is recognized for their outstanding work in the areas of human rights, protection and human rights advocacy in the Philippines.

The Trenton Ecumenical Area Ministry (TEAM) serves as a coordinating agency for the community outreach efforts of churches and other faith- and community-based organizations in Mercer County, N.J.

Photos by Kathleen Cameron