INNEAPOLIS, Minn. — Individuals and agencies that have given outstanding service to the ecumenical movement in the United States and around the world were honored tonight at the 2009 General Assembly of the National Council of Churches (NCC) and Church World Service (CWS).
The annual J. Irwin Miller Award was bestowed upon Lois Dauway, interim deputy general secretary for mission and evangelism of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries.
Dauway, who has demonstrated a lifelong commitment to racial and gender inclusiveness in the church and larger society, serves the ecumenical community in many capacities, including as a member of the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches.
Saying the ecumenical movement made her “nimble,” Dauway recounted her experience “dodging rocks” while working in the Boston school system and then dodging the “barbs and iniquities” directed at social movements.
The award is in tribute to the memory of J. Irwin Miller, the first layman to serve as president of the NCC.
NCC and CWS celebrated recipients of the honors at a dinner ceremony during their joint General Assembly in Minneapolis.