March 18, 2008

Nominations for the 2008 Siefkes Award are open

The Jim Siefkes Justice-Maker Award was established by Lutherans Concerned / North America in 1992 to recognize superior and tireless efforts of straight allies on behalf of GLBT Lutherans.

The criteria for the Jim Siefkes Justice-Maker Award reflect the contributions of its namesake:

• Recipient must be a non-LGBT Lutheran who has made significant contributions to advancing justice for LGBT Lutherans.
• Actions should have a broad impact and not be limited to a particular local or region.

Nominees for the Siefkes Award are evaluated and selected by the LC/NA Board of Directors, and the Award is presented at the LC/NA Biennial Assembly, which will occur July 2008.

The Nomination Form and previous recipients can be found on the Jim Siefkes Justice-Maker Award page. Nominations must be submitted by April 15, 2008, either by email or mail as explained on the form.

The Rev Jim Siefkes obtained funding for and convened the initial meeting in Minneapolis in June of 1974 that resulted in the formation of Lutherans Concerned for Gay People.

Pastor Siefkes also wrote the Affirmation of Welcome, which is the heart of the Reconciling in Christ Program. Even in retirement, Pastor Siefkes continues to advocate for the full inclusion and participation of GLBT Lutherans in the Lutheran Church.

Previous recipients of the Siefkes Award:

The Rev Jim Siefkes
The Rev Stanley Olson, Bishop Emeritus
Joanne Chadwick
Dr Paul Jerslid
The Rev Paul Tidemann
The Rev James DeLange
The Rev Reinie Heydemann
The Rev Paul Egertson, Bishop Emeritus, and Shirley Egertson
Dr Margaret Moreland and The Rev Lowell Erdahl, Bishop Emeritus