May 5, 2003

INDIANAPOLIS - Numerous awards were presented here April 29 to publications associated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) during the annual convention of the Associated Church Press (ACP). ELCA publications won two first-place awards and one second-place award for overall excellence. "Lutheran Woman Today," the magazine of Women of the ELCA, won 12 additional ACP awards.

The ACP is an 87-year-old professional association of 200 publications, news services, Web sites and individuals, representing a combined circulation of more than 28 million.

Named ACP's "Best in Class" with awards of excellence for 2002 were the ELCA News Service in the news service category, and "Seeds for the Parish" in the newsletter category, both within the ELCA Department for Communication, Chicago. ELCA News Service staff for 2002 were John R. Brooks, Frank F. Imhoff, Melissa O. Ramirez, Brenda G. Williams and Amy Wineinger, intern. Seeds for the Parish is edited by Kate Sprutta Elliott.

Lutheran Woman Today received an award of merit for second-place in the Best of Class competition for special-interest magazines.

Lutheran Woman Today also received awards of excellence for: a feature article in a special interest magazine, "Forgiving" by Jeanne Bishop;

Bible study, "Grace Upon Grace: A Study of the Gospel of John" by Mary Hinkle, September, October and November 2002; and magazine design, spread or story, 3- or 4-color, "Transforming Mud: A Memorial for the Missing," September 2002.

An award of merit went to Lutheran Woman Today for its media review section, "Bookmarks," May and December 2002. The magazine also received honorable mentions in eight other categories. Nancy Goldberger is editor, and Deb Bogaert is managing editor.

"The Lutheran," the magazine of the ELCA, received three awards of merit. They were for seasonal article, "They Brought Spices," by Christa Von Zychlin, April 2002; reader response, "Call Process," edited by Elizabeth M. Hunter, March/April 2002; and biblical interpretation, "Powerless Pilate," by Warren Carter, March 2002. In addition, The Lutheran was awarded honorable mentions in three categories. The Rev. David L. Miller is editor.

An award of merit went to the ELCA News Service for its coverage of the 2002 Women of the ELCA Triennial Gathering in Philadelphia.

"Lutheran Partners," a resource published by the ELCA Division for Ministry, received an honorable mention for a magazine cover. William A. Decker, ELCA associate in ministry, is managing editor.

The ACP also honored other Lutheran publications and writers. "Metro Lutheran," a Lutheran newspaper serving Minnesota and part of Wisconsin, received two honorable mentions for editorial opinion and for a feature article. The Rev. Michael L. Sherer is editor.

"Forum Letter," published by the American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, Delhi, N.Y., received an honorable mention for columns. The Rev. Russell E. Saltzman is editor.

ACP members also elected officers and board members. Among those elected to a one-year term on the board was Sonia C. Solomonson, managing editor, The Lutheran.

ELCA News Service