Episcopal Communicators announce winners of the 2024 Polly Bond Awards for Excellence in Communications. These awards recognize excellence in church communications across 19 different categories for work completed in 2023. Independently judged by well-respected and experienced communications professionals outside of the organization’s membership, the best submissions in each category receive awards.

All winning submissions are showcased on the Episcopal Communicators website to inspire ideas and foster excellence in Episcopal communications across the country.

This year, the Board of Episcopal Communicators granted the Janette Pierce Award to Melodie Woerman. The Janette Pierce Award was established by Episcopal Communicators at their Annual Meeting in 1988 to honor the memory of one of the Episcopal Church’s outstanding journalists.

Among other roles, Janette Pierce was managing editor of The Episcopalian and a past president of Episcopal Communicators. The award, given occasionally at the discretion of the Board of Directors of Episcopal Communicators, is in recognition of the person who has made exceptional contributions to the ministry of communication and exemplifies, in both life and work, the ideals and goals of Janette Pierce.

Recipients of the highest honor in each category, “Award of Excellence,” are as follows:

General Excellence

Best Website: The Diocese of West Missouri’s New Website | The Diocese of West Missouri | Zachary Phillips, FMK Agency, The Communications Committee: Walker Adams, the Rev. Sidney Breese, the Rev. Chandler Jackson, the Rev. Isaac Petty, the Rev. Robin James, the Rev. Brittany Sparrow Savage, Emily Davenport, the Rev. Tim Coppinger

Best Print Newsletter/Magazine for a Diocese or Organization: Spring 2023 CROSSINGS Magazine | Church Divinity School of the Pacific | Kyle Oliver, From Learning Forte: Kyle Oliver (editor-in-chief), Greg Klimovitz (interviewing, editing), & Carly Lane (writing, editing). From Trinity Church Wall Street: Marc Tremitiere (layout & design), Rea Ackerman (design supervision), & Antonio Pardini (production assistance); From CDSP: Jeckonia Okoth (interviewing, photography), Paul Impey (editorial assistance).

Best Print Newsletter/Magazine for a Parish or Cathedral: Church of the Holy Communion / The Communicator | Church of the Holy Communion, Memphis, TN | Sarah Cowan, Beth Mitchell, Associate Minister of Communications; Cindy McMillion, Parish Photographer

Best Email/Digital Newsletter/Magazine for a Diocese or Organization: Delaware Communion Magazine | The Episcopal Church in Delaware | Cynde Bimbi, Lola Michael Russell (Episcopalian), Episcopal Church in Delaware, communications assistant; Marie Smith (Episcopalian), Episcopal Church in Delaware, copy editor

Best Email/Digital Newsletter/Magazine for a Parish or Cathedral: Trinity Connects | Trinity Episcopal Church, New Orleans, LA | Ashley Eastham

Best Campaign: Annual Giving Campaign for St Stephen’s, Richmond | St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, Richmond, VA | Sarah Bartenstein, Will Stanley, John Rohrs

Audio/Video

Long-form Video: Bearing Witness: A Journey with Holy Land Christians – Life in Gaza | American Friends of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem | Heidi Shott, John Lent, AFEDJ Executive Director (retired); Anne Kaplan, Owner, Five Pebbles Productions

Short-form Video: Icons: Praying with Brushes | St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, Richmond, VA | Sarah Bartenstein

Writing

News: Presiding Bishop’s Health Looms Over Election of Successor | The Living Church | Kirk Peterson

Feature: A new form of Episcopal mission in New Hampshire reflects new community vitality | Episcopal News Service | Melodie Woerman, Lynette Wilson, editor

Commentary/Reflection: Opening the Door to Women’s Ordination | Episcopal Ministries of Long Island/Episcopal Diocese of Long Island | Mary Grace Puszka

Visual Arts

Photography: Stations of the Cross | Episcopal Diocese of SW Florida | Lindsey Nickel

Graphic Design

Queerly Beloved Logo | The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, Austin, TX | Karolina Gwiazda, The Rev. Brin Bon, Priest for Children, Youth and Families

Mission Statement Stickers | Trinity Episcopal Church, New Orleans, LA | Ashley Eastham

Layout (poster, one-page spread, etc.):

Parish Picnic Poster | The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, Austin, TX | Karolina Gwiazda, Jessica Riels, Director of Programs

Faure Requiem: A Concert of Remembrance | Christ Church in Short Hills, Short Hills, NJ | Chris Whitaker, Libby Clarke, contractor and CCSH Parishioner (also a member of Episcopal Communicators)

Booklet

The Church and the City Lenten Devotional | The Church of St. John the Divine, Houston TX, Andrea Meier, The Rev. Reagan Cocke, St. John the Divine clergy, Reflections; Elizabeth Wilder, St. John the Divine parishioner, Applications

2023 Episcopal Ministries Annual Appeal Report | Episcopal Ministries of Long Island/Episcopal Diocese of Long Island | Mary Grace Puszka

Communications Accessibility: Live from Christ Church in Short Hills: The Webcast | Christ Church in Short Hills, Short Hills, NJ | Chris Whitaker

Social Media

Social Media Non-Video Post: Diocesan Recap | Episcopal Diocese of Northern California | Maria Ramirez, Alan Rellaford, Episcopal Diocese of Northern California, Missioner for Communications

Social Media Video Post: Find a church that…(Advent Campaign) | Episcopal Ministries of Long Island/Episcopal Diocese of Long Island | Denise Fillion, Mary Grace Puszka, Teddy Byrne

The Polly Bond Awards were established in the mid-1970s by Episcopal Communicators to acknowledge excellence and achievement in the ministry of church communications. They are named in honor of Polly Bond (1914-1979), one-time director of communications in the Diocese of Ohio. Bond was a skilled writer and a pioneer in the use of electronic media in the church.

The Polly Bond Awards ceremony is held each year in conjunction with the Episcopal Communicators annual conference, which was held this year from April 16 to 18 in Portland, ME.

Episcopal Communicators is a self-supporting organization of communication professionals working in The Episcopal Church for dioceses, congregations, organizations, or as independent or freelance workers. Our mission is to foster a community that inspires and supports excellence in church communications.

Communications professionals serving the Episcopal Church in the United States are encouraged to join Episcopal Communicators. You can see all 2024 award winners and learn more about joining on our website.