May 12, 2009

INDIANAPOLIS – The Lutheran, the magazine of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), took home four "Best of the Christian Press" awards from the Associated Church Press convention May 6-8 for work in 2008. Other ELCA magazines – Lutheran Partners and Lutheran Woman Today – each received two awards.

Café – Stirring the Spirit Within won top honors, Best in Class Award of Excellence, in the category of Independent Web site or e-zine. Elizabeth McBride and Deborah Bogaert edit the http://www.boldcafe.org/, site. Café is the Web-based magazine of Women of the ELCA, the church's women's organization.

The ELCA News Service received a Best in Class Honorable Mention in the category of News Service. John Brooks, Melissa Ramirez Cooper, Jodi Deike, Susan Hogan, Frank Imhoff and Luke Tatge made up the 2008 staff. The News Service is part of ELCA Communication Services.

Forum Letter, a monthly newsletter of the American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, received an Award of Excellence in the category of Feature Article: News Service, Newsletter, Web site for "An Unexpected Journey" by the Rev. Richard O. Johnson, February.

Founded in 1916, the Associated Church Press is the oldest interdenominational religious press association in North America. This year it awarded "Best of the Christian Press" honors to its members in 10 Best in Class categories and 52 other categories related to reporting, theological writing, graphics and marketing. An Award of Excellence is given as the first place honor in each category, an Award of Merit is second place and Honorable Mention is third place.

The Lutheran won four awards:

• Seasonal Article, Award of Excellence, for "Advent Waiting" by the Rev. Peter W. Marty, December

• Magazine Design, Entire Issue: 4-color, Award of Excellence, Michael D. Watson, designer, July

• Professional Resource, Honorable Mention, for "A Feast for All?" by Julie B. Sevig, March

• Humor Graphic, Honorable Mention, for "Hugger, Shaker ... Peacemaker?" by Watson, April

Lutheran Partners is issued every other month by ELCA Vocation and Education for those serving in the church's public ministries. It won two awards:

• Department, Award of Excellence, for "Written on the Heart," the Rev. Stephanie K. Frey and the Rev. Marcus R. Kunz, editors, January/February, May/June and July/August

• Publication Redesign, Honorable Mention, Ann Rezny, designer

Lutheran Woman Today, the magazine of Women of the ELCA, won two awards:

• Feature Article: Magazine (Long Form), Award of Merit, for "Buried Windows" by the Rev. Heidi B. Neumark, March

• Devotional/Inspirational (Long Form), Honorable Mention, for "Called to Service" by Diane L. Marten, ELCA associate in ministry, July/August

The home page of the Associated Church Press is at http://www.theacp.org/, on the Web.

ELCA News Service