The awards program of Baptist News Global, an initiative of the Board of Directors, recognizes individuals and organizations for their outstanding contributions to Baptist life, to Baptist values, to religious journalism and to the mission and vision of Baptist News Global. Recipients are chosen by the Board of Directors.
Founders Award
This award, established in 1998, recognizes individuals and organizations that have embodied the founding principles of Baptist News Global through significant professional and/or financial contributions to the organization.
Founders Award recipients:
The Eula Mae and John Baugh Foundation, San Antonio, TX, 2017
Jimmy Nickell, Kansas City, MO, 2017
Ed Vick, posthumously, Raleigh, NC, 2012
Bob Stephenson, Norman, OK, 2011
Dan Hobbs, Norman, OK, 2010
Baptist General Convention of Texas, Dallas, TX, 2008
Wilshire Baptist Church, Dallas, TX, 2007
Northminster Baptist Church, Jackson, MS, 2004
Baptist General Association of Virginia, Richmond, VA, 2003
Patricia Ayres, Austin, TX, 2001
Park Cities Baptist Church, Dallas, TX, 2000
Virginia Boyd Connally, Abilene, TX,1999
Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (Inaugural Award), Atlanta, GA, 1999
Greg Warner Lifetime Achievement Award in Religious Journalism
This award, bearing the name of the former executive editor of Baptist News Global, was created in 2009 to honor journalists whose body of work has contributed in significant ways to the understanding of religion in American society. It recognizes persons who with courage and integrity have addressed important issues related to matters of faith, whose writing and reporting have consistently reflected the highest standards of journalism, and whose work is consistent with the mission and values of Baptist News Global. Greg Warner was named the inaugural recipient in 2009.
Lifetime Achievement Award recipients:
Bill Webb, Jefferson City, MO, 2017
Marv Knox, Dallas, TX, 2015
Toby Druin, Dallas, TX, 2012
R.G. “Gene” Puckett, Raleigh, NC, 2011
Greg Warner (Inaugural Award), Jacksonville, FL, 2009
The lifetime achievement award replaced a previous honor known as the Writers Award. Recipients of that award were Mark Wingfield, Dallas, TX, 2003, and Ken Camp, Dallas, TX, 2006.
Religious Freedom Award
Established in 1994, the Religious Freedom Award honored individuals whose achievements advanced the principles and practice of religious freedom. In 2011 the Board of Directors voted to suspend the award in deference to an award with the same name and similar criteria sponsored by the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty.
Recipients of the Religious Freedom Award:
Melissa Rogers, director of Wake Forest University’s Center for Religion and Public Affairs, Wake Forest Divinity School, and nonresident senior fellow within the governance program of The Brookings Institution, 2011
Herbert H. Reynolds (posthumously), former president of Baylor University, 2009
Walter Shurden, professor of Christianity, Mercer University, 2008
Cecil Sherman, retired pastor, first coordinator for the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, 2008
Wilmer C. Fields, retired director of Baptist Press and vice president for public relations, Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee, 2006
Charles C. Haynes, senior scholar, The Freedom Forum First Amendment Center, 2004
Chet Edwards, United States Representative, Texas 11th District, 2003
Jim Jones, retired religion editor for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2001
Peggy Wehmeyer, former religion reporter for ABC News, 2000
James Dunn, retired executive director, Baptist Joint Committee on Public Affairs, 1999
Walker Knight, founding editor of Baptists Today newspaper and former editor of Home Missions magazine, 1998
Will Campbell, ordained minister, author and civil-rights activist, 1997
Gus Niebuhr, former national correspondent for religion for The New York Times, 1996
Religion News Staff of The Dallas Morning News, 1995
Jack Brymer Sr., former editor, Florida Baptist Witness, 1994
For more information about the criteria and nomination process for these awards, contact Robert Dilday, Editor in Chief, at 336.717.1135, ext 7, or email him at [email protected]. Current board members and Baptist News Global staff are ineligible for these awards.