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2024 Awards for Excellence in Episcopal Church Communications Announced 

[Portland, Maine] Episcopal Communicators announces the winners of the 2024 Polly Bond Awards for Excellence in Communications. These awards recognize excellence in church communications across 19 different categories for work completed in 2023. Independently judged by well-respected and experienced communications professionals outside of the organization’s membership, the best submissions on each category receive awards. 

All winning submissions – including Awards of Excellence, Awards of Merit, and Honorable Mentions in each of the 19 categories – are showcased on the Episcopal Communicators website to inspire ideas and foster excellence in Episcopal communications across the church. 

General Excellence categories 

General Excellence categories are judged for the broad effort of a publication or media tool, rather than a specific issue or piece. For most of these categories, that means a full year’s worth of work, with entries offering several samples to judge to publication or tool.

Best Website

Award of Excellence: The Diocese of West Missouri's New Website | The Diocese of West Missouri | Zachary Phillips, FMK Agency, The Communications Committee: Walker Adams, the Rev. Sidney Breese, the Rev. Chandler Jackson, the Rev. Isaac Petty, the Rev. Robin James, the Rev. Brittany Sparrow Savage, Emily Davenport, the Rev. Tim Coppinger

Award of Merit: Episcopal Church in Western Oregon | Episcopal Church in Western Oregon | Alli Gannett, Kelsey Easterbrook, Paul LeFeber, Kortney Kaiser - Contracted Web Designer, Coordinator, and Graphic Designer

Honorable Mention: Diocese of Western North Carolina | Episcopal Diocese of Western North Carolina | Sinclaire Sparkman

Best Email/Digital Newsletter/Magazine for a Diocese or Organization

Award of Excellence: Delaware Communion Magazine | The Episcopal Church in Delaware | Cynde Bimbi, Lola Michael Russell (Episcopalian), Episcopal Church in Delaware, communications assistant; Marie Smith (Episcopalian), Episcopal Church in Delaware, copy editor

Award of Merit: Vestry Papers | Episcopal Church Foundation | Charis Bhagianathan, Anne Stone, Editor; Cathy Hornberger, Assistant Director of Institutional Advancement; Craig Bossi, Chief Operating Officer (COO) Vice President of Finance

Honorable Mention: The Feast Online | The Episcopal Dioceses of Eastern and Western Michigan | Katie Forsyth, Michelle Ruiz, Communications Assistant

Best Email/Digital Newsletter/Magazine for a Parish or Cathedral

Award of Excellence: Trinity Connects | Trinity Episcopal Church, New Orleans, LA | Ashley Eastham

Award of Merit: Cathedral eTimes | The Cathedral of St. Philip, Atlanta, GA | Dan Murphy, Sara Craig-Goodell, Program Coordinator for Communications

Honorable Mention: 2023 Lenten Devotional | Christ Church in Short Hills, Short Hills, NJ | Chris Whitaker


Best Print Newsletter/Magazine for a Diocese or Organization
 

Award of Excellence: Spring 2023 CROSSINGS Magazine | Church Divinity School of the Pacific | Kyle Oliver, From Learning Forte: Kyle Oliver (editor-in-chief), Greg Klimovitz (interviewing, editing), & Carly Lane (writing, editing). From Trinity Church Wall Street: Marc Tremitiere (layout & design), Rea Ackerman (design supervision), & Antonio Pardini (production assistance); From CDSP: Jeckonia Okoth (interviewing, photography), Paul Impey (editorial assistance).

Award of Merit: Ratherview | Seminary of the Southwest | Eric Scott, Eric Scott, Tatiana Suggs-Perea, Keela Vaughn, Kris Krieg, Cynthia Briggs Kittredge

Honorable Mention:  Iowa Connections Magazine | Episcopal Diocese of Iowa | Traci Ruhland Petty


Best Print Newsletter/Magazine for a Parish or Cathedral

Award of Excellence: Church of the Holy Communion / The Communicator | Church of the Holy Communion, Memphis, TN | Sarah Cowan, Beth Mitchell, Associate Minister of Communications; Cindy McMillion, Parish Photographer

Award of Merit:  Calvary Chronicle | Calvary Episcopal Church, Memphis, TN | Robyn Banks

Award of Merit:  Parish Life |  St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Winston-Salem, NC | Jason Franklin

Honorable Mention: 50th Anniversary Magazine - 50 Years of Love | Saint Stephen's Episcopal Church, Vestavia Hills, AL | Kristyn Bara, Charles Buchanan, Project Manager; Karin Fecteau, Art Director; the Rev. John Burruss, Rector

Honorable Mention: Seasons of the Spirit | St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, Richmond, VA | Sarah Bartenstein, John Rohrs, Cate Anthony, Diana Chou

Honorable Mention: The Rock Road | St. Peter's Episcopal Church, Kerrville TX | Lauren Vereen, Ginny Stehling, St. Peter's Episcopal Church, Parish Administrator; The Rev. Bert Baetz, St. Peter's Episcopal Church, Rector

Best Campaign

Award of Excellence: Annual Giving Campaign for St Stephen's, Richmond | St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, Richmond, VA | Sarah Bartenstein, Will Stanley, John Rohrs

Award of Merit: 2023 Water and The Word Conference | Episcopal Diocese of SW Florida | Lindsey Nickel

Honorable Mention: Rope Hope | Episcopal Church in Wyoming | Genie Osburn


Individual categories 

Audio/Video

Long-form

Award of Excellence: Bearing Witness: A Journey with Holy Land Christians - Life in Gaza | American Friends of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem | Heidi Shott, John Lent, AFEDJ Executive Director (retired); Anne Kaplan, Owner, Five Pebbles Productions

Award of Merit: Bearing Witness: A Journey with Holy Land Christians - Belonging and Identity | American Friends of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem | Heidi Shott, John Lent, AFEDJ Executive Director (retired); Anne Kaplan, Owner, Five Pebbles Productions

Honorable Mention: Bearing Witness: A Journey with Holy Land Christians - Building Hope | American Friends of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem | Heidi Shott, John Lent, AFEDJ Executive Director (retired); Anne Kaplan, Owner, Five Pebbles Productions

Short-form Video

Award of Excellence: Icons: Praying with Brushes | St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, Richmond, VA | Sarah Bartenstein

Award of Merit: Welcome to the Episcopal Diocese of Western North Carolina | Episcopal Diocese of Western North Carolina | Sinclaire Sparkman, Virginia Taylor, freelancer

Honorable Mention: St. Paul's Shreveport Children's Christmas Pageant | St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Shreveport, LA | Erika Cannon


Writing

News

Award of Excellence:  Presiding Bishop's Health Looms Over Election of Successor | The Living Church | Kirk Peterson

Award of Merit: Sacramento Episcopal cathedral, area churches provide aid to migrants flown to California | Episcopal News Service | Melodie Woerman, Lynette Wilson, editor

Honorable Mention: Renaming liturgy offers a blessing to a North Dakota woman and her new name | Episcopal News Service | Melodie Woerman, Lynette Wilson, editor

Honorable Mention:  Gay, lesbian priests describe expectation of celibacy to serve in Diocese of Florida under Bishop Howard  Episcopal News Service | David Paulson

Feature

Award of Excellence: A new form of Episcopal mission in New Hampshire reflects new community vitality | Episcopal News Service | Melodie Woerman, Lynette Wilson, editor

Award of Merit: Unburied History | Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina | Summerlee Walter

Honorable Mention:  Washington National Cathedral’s online coffee hour nurtures small, close-knit community of remote worshipers Episcopal News Service | Melodie Woerman, Lynette Wilson, editor

Honorable Mention: Tale of Resolve: Remembering Cherokee Sand Town at St. John’s, Cartoogechaye Episcopal Diocese of Western North Carolina | Sinclaire Sparkman

Commentary/Reflection

Award of Excellence: Opening the Door to Women’s Ordination | Episcopal Ministries of Long Island/Episcopal Diocese of Long Island | Mary Grace Puszka 

Award of Merit: The Power of Place | Seminary of the Southwest | Eric Scott, The Very Rev. Cynthia Briggs Kittredge

Honorable Mention: When the lens of vulnerability limits impact | Episcopal Relief & Development | Rebecca Merrill, Gill McCallion, VP of Marketing & Communications, Vanessa Pizer, Director of Climate Resilience Initiatives and Dr. Chiseche Salome Mibenge, Director of Gender Initatives


Visual Arts

Photography

Award of Excellence: Stations of the Cross | Episcopal Diocese of SW Florida | Lindsey Nickel

Award of Merit: Between the Pews | St. Peter's Episcopal Church, Kerrville, TX | Laura Vereen


Graphic Design

Award of Excellence: Queerly Beloved LogoThe Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, Austin, TX | Karolina Gwiazda, The Rev. Brin Bon, Priest for Children, Youth and Families

Award of Excellence: Mission Statement Stickers | Trinity Episcopal Church, New Orleans, LA | Ashley Eastham

Award of Merit: Youth Wilderness Retreat to Utah: t-shirt designThe Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, Austin, TX | Karolina Gwiazda, The Rev. Brin Bon, Priest for Children, Youth and Families

Award of Merit: St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Rochester, NY Logo | St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Rochester, NY | Sonja Slother, The Rev. Rob Picken, Ingrid Stanlis, Erin Glanton & Mara Hazzard-Wallingford

Award of Merit: Seminary of the Southwest logo | Seminary of the Southwest | Eric Scott, Cynthia Briggs Kittredge, Envision Creative

Honorable Mention: Children Youth and Families’ logo seriesThe Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, Austin, TX | Karolina Gwiazda, The Rev. Brin Bon, Priest for Children, Youth and Families

Honorable Mention: St. Francis of the Mountains 100th Anniversary Poster | Episcopal Diocese of Northern California | Alan Rellaford, Ruth Rich, Photographer

Honorable Mention: Pride Prayer | Episcopal Ministries of Long Island/Episcopal Diocese of Long Island | Mary Grace Puszka

Honorable Mention: Sacred Concert by Duke Ellington | Trinity Church in the City of Boston, Boston, MA | Brigitta Patterson


Layout (poster, one-page spread, etc.)

Award of Excellence: Parish Picnic PosterThe Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, Austin, TX | Karolina Gwiazda, Jessica Riels, Director of Programs

Award of Excellence: Faure Requiem: A Concert of Remembrance | Christ Church in Short Hills, Short Hills, NJ | Chris Whitaker, Libby Clarke, contractor and CCSH Parishioner (also a member of Episcopal Communicators)

Award of Merit: Iona Collaborative: Equipping Bi-Vocational Leaders Promotional Banner | Seminary of the Southwest | Tatiana Suggs-Perea, Iona Collaborative at Seminary of the Southwest

Honorable Mention: Shepherd Fest PosterThe Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, Austin, TX | Karolina Gwiazda, Jessica Riels, Director of Programs

Honorable Mention: Winter 2023 Disciple Cover Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina | Summerlee Walter


Booklet

Award of Excellence: The Church and the City Lenten Devotional | The Church of St. John the Divine, Houston TX, Andrea Meier, The Rev. Reagan Cocke, St. John the Divine clergy, Reflections; Elizabeth Wilder, St. John the Divine parishioner, Applications

Award of Excellence: 2023 Episcopal Ministries Annual Appeal ReportEpiscopal Ministries of Long Island/Episcopal Diocese of Long Island | Mary Grace Puszka

Award of Merit: A Place to Call Home | Trinity Episcopal Church, New Orleans, LA | Ashley Eastham, Inspiration from Jason Franklin, Photography from various contributors

Honorable Mention: Bishop's Book of Dreams Episcopal Diocese of Northern California | Alan Rellaford, copywriters

Honorable Mention: Episcopal Ministries of Long Island's 2023 End of Year Report Episcopal Ministries of Long Island/Episcopal Diocese of Long Island | Mary Grace Puszka

Social Media Non-Video Post

Award of Excellence: Diocesan Recap | Episcopal Diocese of Northern California | Maria Ramirez, Alan Rellaford, Episcopal Diocese of Northern California, Missioner for Communications

Award of Merit: Donuts with the Donkey | Saint Stephen's Episcopal Church, Vestavia Hills, AL | Kristyn Bara

Honorable Mention: NOLA PRIDE Trinity Episcopal Church, New Orleans, LA | Ashley Eastham, Nancy Gunn, Photographer

Honorable Mention: Be Disaster Ready Expo Episcopal Diocese of Northern California | Maria Ramirez, Alan Rellaford, Episcopal Diocese of Northern California, Missioner for Communications

Social Media Video Post

Award of Excellence: Find a church that...(Advent Campaign)Episcopal Ministries of Long Island/Episcopal Diocese of Long Island | Denise Fillion, Mary Grace Puszka, Teddy Byrne

Award of Merit: Grand Opening of the Bishop Dena A. Harrison Library ReelSeminary of the Southwest | Tatiana Suggs-Perea, Seminary of the Southwest

Honorable Mention: Welcome Love Everyone | The Episcopal Church in Delaware | Cynde Bimbi


Communications Accessibility

Award of Excellence: Live from Christ Church in Short Hills: The Webcast | Christ Church in Short Hills, Short Hills, NJ | Chris Whitaker

Award of Merit: The North Carolina Disciple - DigitalEpiscopal Diocese of North Carolina | Summerlee Walter & Christine McTaggart, Communications Coordinator, Diocese of North Carolina; Bilingual Communications Inc.

Honorable Mention: The Mystery of Christmas: Trinity's Digital Advent CalendarTrinity Episcopal Church, New Orleans, LA | Ashley Eastham, Ashley Bond, Director of Formation at Trinity Church


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