November 16, 2004
by Jerry L. Van Marter

ST. LOUIS - Civil rights movement pioneer Dorothy I. Height was named winner of the National Council of Churches (NCC)'s first J. Irwin Miller Award for her 60 years of dedication to equal rights and justice in the United States.

The award is named for the prominent industrialist and philanthropist who was a founder of the NCC and served as its president from 1960 to1963. Miller, a member of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), died three months ago at the age of 95.

Height's award was one of several handed out by the NCC, the United States' largest ecumenical organization, at its annual awards luncheon during its Nov. 9-11 General Assembly here.

Height, regarded by many as the "mother" of the civil rights movement, is probably best known as president of the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) from 1957 until 1998. During that time her efforts to strengthen the black family earned her national and international acclaim.

"She always says that anybody can make noise, anybody can complain," said Brenda Girton-Mitchell, the NCC's associate general secretary for justice and advocacy, who is a lifetime NCNW member. "But God calls on some of us to step up and make noise and make a difference. Do more than complain. We must put our hands to the plough like Dr. Height and stay with it until we make a difference."

Height, who lives in Washington, DC, was unable to be present. Her great-nephew, Paul Randolph, and nephew, Bernard Randolph Sr., accepted the award on her behalf.

Excellence in Unity Award

The Rev. Michael Kinnamon, professor of mission, peace and ecumenical studies at St. Louis' Eden Theological Seminary, was given the NCC's Excellence in Unity Award.

A minister of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Kinnamon is chair of the NCC's Justice and Advocacy Commission. He has also served on the Faith and Order Commissions of both the NCC and the World Council of Churches, and served as general secretary of Churches Uniting in Christ when it emerged out of the Consultation on Church Union.

Characteristically, Kinnamon accepted the award with the words: "I care deeply for the work of the National Council of Churches, but even more, I care about the one church of Jesus Christ."

Excellence in Peace and Justice Award

Farm labor leader Baldemar Velasquez and Mt. Olive Pickle Company CEO William Bryan received the NCC's Peace and Justice Award for their efforts to settle a five-and-a-half-year consumer boycott of Mt. Olive.

Their labor agreement, which covers more than 8,000 H2-A "guest workers" in North Carolina, marks the first time in U.S. history that such workers have won union representation and a contract.

"Yours was not an easy task," the Rev. Michael Livingston, the NCC's president-elect, told the two. "But the historic agreement that you reached and your presence here today is a visible demonstration of the reconciled relationships that - with hard work and the grace of God - can arise from conflict."

Excellence in Hope Award

Popular New Age composer, pianist and conductor Tim Janis received the NCC's Hope Award for his musical and charitable commitment to humanitarian causes around the world.

Church World Service chairperson Betty Voskuil hailed Janis "for his passionate generosity for people living with AIDS; for his tireless creativity exercised in the service of all God's people; for his dedicated commitment to the ministry of Church World Service; for his soaring music that heals, inspires and lifts the spirits of millions of people; and for being a beacon of hope in a wounded world."

In 2002, Janis volunteered to go to South Africa for a series of concerts to raise funds for CWS' AIDS ministries. Subsequently he arranged for that country's HIV+ Sinikithemba Choir to tour the United States to raise awareness and funds for the fight against HIV/AIDS in Africa.

And this year Janis' "Beautiful America Concert" raised more than $1 million for PBS television. He is currently touring the United States to raise money for a new national education initiative, a partnership with U.S. educators and PBS to foster music and artistic development within U.S. public schools.

Presbyterian News Service