11/4/2003 News media contact: Linda Green · (615) 742-5470 · Nashville, Tenn
Photos are available.
By Kathy Kruger Noble*
United Methodist Association of Communicators logo, Photo number W03079, Accompanies UMNS #526
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PHILADELPHIA (UMNS)- A television advertising
director for United Methodist Communications has been selected as the
"Communicator of the Year" for 2003 by church journalists.
Jackie
Vaughan, a long-time employee of United Methodist Communications, was
recognized and honored at the Oct. 31 awards banquet of the United
Methodist Association of Communicators (UMAC).
Ron Council,
former communications director for the North Alabama Annual Conference,
and the Rev. James M. Wall, former editor-publisher of the Christian
Century magazine, became the newest members of the association's "Hall
of Fame" on the same evening.
The banquet was the climax of an
Oct. 30-Nov. 1 meeting that drew more than 80 communicators from around
the denomination to Philadelphia. UMAC is a voluntary professional
organization of church communicators. The winners of the association's
annual communications contest were also honored during the ceremonies.
The
communicator of the year award is given to the person who exemplifies
religious communication in the United Methodist Church. "Hall of Fame"
induction recognizes the significant contributions to religion
communications of individuals who have either retired or are deceased.
Vaughan
began her career at United Methodist Communications in 1986 and is the
director of the "Igniting Ministry" matching grants program. She
administers the awarding of $1 million in matching grants to
congregations and annual conferences for the purchase of television
advertising time. Vaughan's first years at UMCom were spent with the
communications education and resources staff. During most of the past 17
years, she has served with television ministries, including "Catch the
Spirit."
"It's very special to me," Vaughan said of the
"Communicator of the Year" award, adding that she wanted to accept it on
behalf of the agency and the teams with which she has worked.
Council
established the communications office and served as director of
communications for the North Alabama Conference of the United Methodist
Church from 1994 to 2000. He developed strong relations with the public
media and led the creation of The Voice, one of the first
magazine-format annual conference publications in the country.
"In
honoring me, you honor communicators throughout the United Methodist
Church who achieve miraculous results with sometimes-modest resources,"
Council said. He cited supportive relationships with other UMAC members
and with the staff of United Methodist Communications as contributing to
the success of the North Alabama communications office.
Wall
retired as editor-publisher of the Christian Century in 1999. He began
his work with the ecumenical publication in 1972 and continues as senior
contributing editor. He continues to serve as adjunct professor of
religion and culture at the United Methodist-related Claremont (Calif.)
School of Theology and is a representative of the National Council of
Churches to the motion picture industry and a consultant to the Motion
Picture Association of America's film ratings appeals board.
Wall
expressed gratitude for his induction into the "Hall of Fame" saying he
would "join many of my colleagues for whom I have continued admiration
and appreciation."
Seventeen awards of excellence recognized the
best of more than 400 entries in UMAC's annual communications contest. A
total of 160 entries were honored.
Winners of awards of excellence for work in 2002 were:
Newspaper:
Wesleyan Christian Advocate, Alice M. Smith, Sybil Fletcher Davidson
and Anne Dukes, North and South Georgia annual conferences.
Newsletter: Horizon, Kimberly Pace and Carolyn Dandridge, United Methodist Board of Discipleship.
Magazine:
Interpreter, Garlinda Burton, Gwendolyn Colvin, Joey Butler, Mike
Dubose, Tanya Simmons and Suzanne Story, United Methodist
Communications.
Brochures and Promotional Material: "Camping in the Wesleyan Spirit," Cindy Feldman, Iowa Annual Conference.
Special Publications: [the] re: source, Kimberly Pace and Carolyn Dandridge, United Methodist Board of Discipleship.
Videos
Costing More than $10,000: "Repair the Breach, Restore God's
Community," John Coleman, Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference.
Videos
Costing Less than $10,000: "Change of Heart," Dan Moore and the North
Central New York Conference Resource Ministries Team, North Central New
York Annual Conference.
Television/Cable: "Duct Tape" television spot, Steve Horswill-Johnston, "Igniting Ministry," United Methodist Communications.
Radio: "The United Methodist Hour," Connie Shelton, The United Methodist Hour of Mississippi, Inc.
Internet: www.ngumc.org, Mark Nugent, North Georgia Annual Conference.
Writing:
"Surviving Child Trust Offers Hope to Africa's AIDS Orphans," Linda
Green, United Methodist News Service, United Methodist Communications.
Photography: "Mission to Zimbabwe," Cindy Feldman, Iowa Annual Conference.
Artwork: Commemorative Issue Cover: Kristin Del Mul, United Methodist Reporter.
Language
Communications: "United As One" Korean television spot, Steve
Horswill-Johnston, "Igniting Ministry," United Methodist Communications.
Publicity and Advertising: Conference Promotion, Cindy Feldman, Iowa Annual Conference.
Special
Section or Supplement: "John Wesley-300 Years," Cynthia B. Astle, Susan
Barton, Michael Clements, William Fentum, Don Mayer, Vijay Michael,
Steve Smith and Kristin Del Mul, United Methodist Reporter.
Work
from Church-Related Institution, Local Church, District, Other
Denomination, Secular: www.akronbugle.com, Ken and Marilyn Kasperek, Tim
Finucane and Karlyn Kasperek, Akron (NY) Bugle.
* * * *Kruger Noble is a member of the Conference Resourcing Team at United Methodist Communications.