Nominations for Candler School of Theology’s 2024 Honors Day awards will open in the spring for these awards:
Claude H. Thompson Award
The Claude H. Thompson Award was established by Candler’s class of 1971 in honor of Dr. Thompson, a professor of systematics at Candler. The late Dr. Thompson exemplified evangelical piety and social witness as a model for church leadership during the civil rights era.
The Thompson Award is given to the student who best has demonstrated his/her concern that the Gospel of Jesus Christ comes to concrete expression in the lives of men and women through acts of justice and reconciliation. Emphasis is on the implementation of theological sensitivities for practical social concerns. This award has no class restriction.
Nolan B. Harmon Award
The Nolan B. Harmon Award was established by the late Bishop Harmon who was Visiting Professor of Practical Theology at Candler for many years. Considered an authority in matters of church constitutional history and church law, Bishop Harmon’s classes were a highlight in the education of hundreds of seminarians.
The Harmon Award is presented to the second-year MDiv student who has shown the most marked improvement during the two years spent in the School of Theology. Areas of improvement include academic performance, personal growth, ministerial promise, and social concerns. The nominee must have either begun the academic year as a middler or become a middler at the end of the fall semester.
John D. and Alice Slay Award
The John D. and Alice Slay Award was established by Dr. and Mrs. Slay. Dr. Slay, an ordained elder in the Mississippi Annual Conference, strongly supported rigorous academic preparation for ministry.
The Slay Award is presented to the second-year MDiv student who has exhibited outstanding academic performance, achievement and promise for pastoral ministry. The nominee must have either begun the academic year as a middler or become a middler at the end of the fall semester.
The Ruth Sewell Flowers Award
The Flowers award is presented to the senior MDiv student who has shown the greatest improvement in ministerial qualifications during the three years spent in the School of Theology. Areas of improvement include academic performance, personal growth, ministerial leadership and promise, and social concern. The nominee must graduate in the current academic year.
G. Ray Jordan Award
The G. Ray Jordan Award honors a former homiletics professor at Candler. Dr. Jordan encouraged students to strive for the highest ideals in pastoral leadership. The Jordan Award is presented to the MDiv senior who shows unusual promise of usefulness in ministry and who has demonstrated excellence in integrating academic study with constructive leadership and service. The nominee must graduate in the current academic year.
Community Service Award
The Community Service Award is presented to the graduating student, from any degree program, who has given outstanding service to the Candler Community. The nominee must graduate in the current academic year.