Contact: Kendra Friend, Community of Christ Public Relations
Phone: 1-800-825-2806, ext. 3041

Awards for international human rights work, international service to youth, and to honor literary achievement will be given to four people during a special ceremony and worship service on Friday, March 23, at 4:30 p.m. in the Community of Christ Temple, 201 S. River, Independence, Missouri. All are invited to attend.

The church will also recognize ministers who are retiring or who have served the church full-time for 25 years during this pre-World Conference event. Official opening of the Conference is on March 24. Visit www.CofChrist.org/wc2007/ for more details.

The Community of Christ International Human Rights Award for Service to Humanity will be presented to Rhoda Mzingo and Rod Downing.

Rhoda Mzingo is being recognized for her commitment to well-being and justice for all people, particularly caring for the sick and working on behalf of women, children, and those who suffer from HIV-AIDS.

A native of Kenya, Rhoda is a nurse with Participatory Human Development training. A prime advocate for women as full participants in social and economic life, she has focused on supporting widows and their children. Rhoda established the Orphans and Widows’ support group in Mtopanga Housing Area, which takes in HIV-AIDS orphans and destitute men and women.

Rhoda has personally cared for those who suffer from the devastating effects of HIV-AIDS. She has also become a champion for HIV-AIDS prevention education, working with high-risk populations to convey the vital and practical ways for stemming the tide of this pandemic.

Rhoda and her family are active in Community of Christ and have served the church in various capacities. Rhoda has been Women’s Ministries Coordinator and Congregational Oblation Ministries Coordinator at a local level. She has also been the Community Health Training Facilitator for the church in Zambia, Congo, Malawi and Kenya.

Rod Downing is being recognized for his many activities that display his passion for the well-being of human beings and all of creation. A native of Canada, Rod works full-time as a computer software designer.

He has been an active supporter, volunteer, and donor of the human development organization World Accord since its inception, and has served on the Board of Directors for more than 10 years. World Accord Director Terry Fielder said, “Rod is in the group of my most respected people, which includes Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Ed Guy, and Mother Teresa.”

Rod also produces a human rights newsletter and has served on the Community of Christ Peace and Justice Committee for the last three years. In Vancouver, Canada, Rod is president of the Agape Society, which is involved in housing and programs for at-risk youth. He has offered classes on peace and justice throughout Canada and published numerous articles.

The World Community International Youth Service Award is being presented to Eleanor West for her dedication, creativity, and love selflessly shared with the next generation, especially through her work with Camp Quality—summer camps for children with cancer. She has been Executive Director of Camp Quality Michigan for almost 20 years.

Approximately 2,000 children have been encouraged through their experiences as Camp Quality Michigan campers. Eleanor has also made a difference for young adults who have served as volunteer companions and staff at the camps, many of whom have chosen to pursue careers in education and health professions based on their experiences.

A native of Michigan, Eleanor believes her experience working with Community of Christ youth has been the training ground for her work in the community. She began teaching Sunday school as a teenager and she has been involved in youth ministry in her congregation, at a jurisdictional level, and through camping ministries. She has participated in youth leadership for her community and the church for more than 40 years.

Camp Quality is a nonprofit volunteer organization that provides camping experiences and year-round support for children with cancer, and their families. Eleanor leads and trains volunteers as companions and camp staff, is responsible for fundraising, and directs camps. Through her leadership, Camp Quality has grown significantly.

The Elbert A. Smith Memorial Award will be presented to Jim Hannah for excellent writing published in Community of Christ’s denominational Herald magazine. Jim retired in November 2006 after serving as Herald editor for nine years. The magazine has been published continuously since 1860 with an international circulation of 25,000.

The second issue of the Herald under Jim’s editorial direction, April 1998, was redesigned and included a column on the back page titled “Endnotes.” The exceptionally popular Endnotes continued over his name for the rest of his career as editor—a total of 104 issues.

A native of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, and current resident of Independence, Missouri, Jim also authored numerous feature and news articles for the magazine. Now serving in interfaith relations for the local Habitat for Humanity affiliate, Jim continues to write. Prior to serving as Herald editor, Jim was an appointee minister for the church for nearly 20 years.

During each Community of Christ World Conference, the Elbert A. Smith Memorial Award is bestowed on an author whose Herald article(s) best represent the high standards of integrity, clarity, and soundness of intellectual and religious thought characteristic of the late Elbert Smith’s writing for the church’s publishing house throughout the first half of the twentieth century. Smith served the church as presiding patriarch for a time and was a prolific writer whose articles had significant influence. The recipient of the Elbert A. Smith Memorial Award is selected by editors of the Herald.