Several San Francisco Theological Seminary community members were honored during the Associated Church Press (ACP) annual awards banquet on May 2. The ACP is the oldest and largest Christian press association and stages yearly judging for its “Best of the Christian Press Awards.”

Rev. Jerry Van Marter, who earned his Master of Divinity degree from SFTS in 1971 and was the 2004 Distinguished Alumnus, received numerous awards both as a writer and director of the Presbyterian News Service, which took third in the news service category.

Individually, Van Marter earned the Award of Excellence (first place) in the news service category for his story “PC(USA) relaxes constitutional prohibition of gay and lesbian ordination.”  He received an Award of Merit (second place) in the Convention or Meeting Coverage category for “Fellowship of Presbyterians examines options for ‘differentiation’ from PC(USA).”

Rev. Dr. Jana Childers, SFTS professor of homiletics and speech communications, was awarded an Honorable Mention (third place) in the Department category. She teamed with Michael Lindvall and Ted V. Foote Jr. for “Benedictory” in The Presbyterian Outlook.

Rev. Dr. Margaret Aymer, who led the Horizons Bible Study Day at SFTS last year, received the Award of Excellence (first place) in the Bible Resource category for her 2011 Horizons magazine Bible study “Confessing the Beatitudes.”

Presbyterians Today was named the best denominational magazine in North America. The monthly magazine’s prestigious “Best In Class” honor was one of 14 awards won by PC(USA) publications from among more than 1,000 entries submitted.

Presbyterian Outlook received a third place prize in the Special Interest Magazine category.