Bishop Bruce R. Ough, Rev. Dr. Earl D. Trent Jr., Rev. John L. McCullough, Rev. Russell Pierce. Photo courtesy Gladys Mangiduyos.
by Linda Bloom, United Methodist News Service. Excerpted from http://www.umc.org/news-and-media/ecumenical-day-marks-new-relationships
The Rev. D. Earl Trent Jr., chairman of the Church World Service board of directors presented the CWS 2016 Ecumenical Award to the United Methodist Council of Bishops on behalf of Church World Service.
Joining the presentation were two United Methodist staff leaders with CWS — the Rev. John McCullough, President & CEO and a member of the United Methodist New England Conference, and the Rev. Russell Pierce, senior director of funds development and a member of the Western North Carolina Conference.
The award recognized the Council of Bishops and its Office of Christian Unity and Interreligious Relationships, Boards of Global Ministries and Church and Society, United Methodist Committee on Relief, United Methodist Women and the denomination’s congregations and members for its support of mission work to:
- Eradicate hunger and poverty, especially through CROP Hunger Walks and other CWS initiatives;
- Create rights-based development work centered on food and water security;
- Assist children in their educational pursuit and their parents in achieving sustainable livelihoods;
- Collect material resources and distribute kits worldwide;
- Collaborate on domestic disaster long-term recovery training and partnerships in international disaster response.
- Provide protection for the displaced, exemplifying the spirit of Christian welcome.
The previous recipients of the CWS Ecumenical Award were Foods Resource Bank in 2015 and the Greek Archdiocese in America in 2014.