VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABMS 12/15/2023)—American Baptist Home Mission Societies (ABHMS) has extended to January 31, 2024, the due date for receipt of nominations for its four distinguished national ministry awards. These awards recognize excellence among ministry professionals, specifically honoring American Baptist chaplains, pastoral counselors, spiritual directors and other specialized ministers for exceptional faithfulness in ministry in ways that manifest cultural sensitivity, generational inclusiveness, contextual relevance and missional appropriateness.

Award recipients will be formally recognized at ABHMS’ Chaplaincy & Specialized Ministry Luncheon on April 10, 2024. The luncheon is part of the denominational organization’s signature gathering, Space for Grace & Spiritual Caregivers Conference 2024, to be held April 9-11, in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania.

Nominees are sought for the following awards:

• The Carolyn M. Piper Pastoral Counseling Merit Award, which recognizes faithful and effective pastoral counseling.
• The Lorraine K. Potter Military Chaplaincy Merit Award, given to celebrate faithful and effective pastoral and spiritual care in the United States military.
• The Paul W. Strickland Institutional Chaplaincy Merit Award, which commemorates faithful and effective pastoral and spiritual care in an institutional setting, such as a hospital or college.
• The American Baptist National Network of Chaplains Pastoral Counselors and Specialized Ministers Merit Award, an honor bestowed for faithful and effective service as a specialized minister who engages in ministry that empowers others to excel in spiritual excellence.

An electronic version of the nomination form is available here.

For more information about the awards, delivered on video by the American Baptist ecclesiastical endorser, the Rev. Dr. Patricia Murphy, BCC, and the 2022 award recipients, visit ABHMS’ Spiritual Caregivers Network playlist on YouTube.

Questions about any of the awards should be directed to Dr. Murphy at patricia.murphy@abhms.org or at 610-768-2050.

American Baptist Home Mission Societies partners with American Baptists to promote Christian faith, cultivate Christ-centered leaders and disciples, and bring healing and transformation to communities across the United States and Puerto Rico.

American Baptist Churches USA is one of the most diverse Christian denominations today, with approximately 5,000 congregations comprised of 1.3 million members, across the United States and Puerto Rico, all engaged in God’s mission around the world.