November 11, 1999

CLEVELAND—The National Council of Churches, meeting here in its 50th anniversary year, has recognized seven ecumenical and interfaith agencies in cities across the United States for their creative approach to service. The annual awards, presented at a ceremony today, honored work in the areas of support for school children, coordination of interfaith response following disasters, long-term care for the aging, and work against racism and for inter-group understanding.

"These Ecumenical/Interfaith Service Awards acknowledge the efforts of people seeking unity through innovative and caring ministries that bring hope and justice while building new relationships," said Ms. Barbara George, NCC Ecumenical Networks Director, presenting the awards. "The NCC honors these efforts with the confidence that others will be inspired to creative models in communities across the country."

The NCC established the Ecumenical/Interfaith Service Awards in 1991 to encourage projects that respond to human need and promote unity. Nominations are sought broadly, Ms. George said. The selections are recommended by the NCC Ecumenical Networks Working Group.

"Ecumenical and inter-religious organizations at the grassroots are in a position to get a clear view of problems and potentials in their communities," Ms. George said. "They bring to their work a clear vision of what God wills for creation." Last year’s awards were given to agencies working in the areas of family violence, emergency nutrition, religious freedom, disaster recovery, hate crimes, HIV/AIDS education, after-school tutoring.

The "1998 Ecumenical Service Awards" honorees are: Caring Hands School Supply Program, carried out by Bear Creek Assistance Ministries, Houston, Texas, which in 1998 provided 1,800 children with school supplies, clothes, shoes, haircuts and vision and dental screening. East Side, West Side Project, an ecumenical program in central Fort Wayne, Ind., that brings together children and families from diverse racial, economic and cultural backgrounds for safe, structured activities that encourage growth. Florida Interfaith Networking in Disaster, a program of the Florida Council of Churches that brings order to the communication and cooperation efforts of the faith community’s response to natural disasters. Interfaith Mission Service of Huntsville, Ala., produced "Showing Southern Hospitality: Guidelines for Respecting Religious Diversity in Our Community." The booklet provides information on how to address a variety of topics from various faith perspectives. Interfaith Sisterhood Dialogue of Metropolitan Atlanta, a gathering of lay, clergy and professional women who share common threads in family, faith and the concerns of everyday living. Long-term Care Ombudsman Program is a volunteer effort of the Southwest Missouri Office on Aging and the Council of Churches of the Ozarks, Springfield, Mo. The program provides about 2,800 nursing home residents with regular visits and advocacy assistance. The program is open to volunteers from all faiths and ethnic backgrounds. The Racial Healing Institute, an annual conference sponsored by the Columbus Community Relations Commission, Columbus, Ohio. The event reaches out to Central Ohio and contiguous states and helps professionals and the faith community to address racism in their places of work, communities and homes. The 1998 conference drew 125 participants. The 1999 conference worked under the theme, "To Healing from Hate, New Paradigms."