Press Release from the National Council of Churches
St. Louis, November 10, 2004 - The Rev. Dr. Michael Kinnamon, a St. Louis resident and Allen and Dottie Miller Professor of Mission, Peace and Ecumenical Studies at Eden Theological Seminary here, was presented with the Excellence in Unity Award during an awards banquet at the National Council of Churches USA’s General Assembly today.
Called “one of the most active ecumenist in the world” by NCC President Bishop Thomas L. Hoyt, Jr., Dr. Kinnamon was given the award for his outstanding leadership in fostering relationships among denominations in which differences can be better understood and healing from brokenness can take place. He is also recognized for his work to offer a strong prophetic voice to the Christian community, aid churches in discovering common theological ground that may contribute to the visible unity of the Church, and address church-dividing issues in order that the unity can be achieved and made visible in the world.
In speaking of his gratitude for being chosen for the award, Dr. Kinnamon said, “I care deeply for the work of the National Council of Churches but even more, I care about the one church of Jesus Christ.”
Dr. Kinnamon is currently the Chair of the NCC’s Justice and Advocacy Commission, the newest commission in the Council’s structure. He has also served on the Faith and Order Commission where he chaired a landmark study on ecclesiology. In addition, Dr. Kinnamon has been active in the World Council of Churches’ Commission on Faith and Order and also played a pivotal role in the founding of the organization “Churches Uniting in Christ.” For this organization, he served as general secretary during the transitional period when it emerged from the Consultation on Church Union.
An ordained minister of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Dr. Kinnamon is a prolific author who has written numerous works about ecumenism including The Ecumenical Movement: An Anthology of Key Texts and Voices, which is widely used as a textbook on church unity.
According to Bishop Hoyt, “Our gift of unity in Christ has been made significantly more visible to the churches and to the wider society because of Michael Kinnamon.”
Dr. Kinnamon, who previously taught at Lexington Theological Seminary in Kentucky and Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis, has said of his work, “The most gratifying result of my teaching is the fact that so many former students have made ecumenical witness a key dimension of their ministry. I try to insist that all those who confess Christ, of whatever race or culture or communion, are related by blood. We dare not say ‘ I have no need of you’ or ‘you have no claim on me.’ ”
