faithful service to children, most notably in Buckhorn, KY, where he was president and CEO for 21 years of the Presbyterian Child Welfare Agency and she was vice president of the Buckhorn Children's Foundation, a related organization that helps to support Buckhorn financially.

"I recently heard on NPR this definition of mission: Determine where God is already at work in the world and join her there," Sally Baker said. "This surely fits Buckhorn."

"For many Presbyterians," she said, "Buckhorn is both a mythical and a mystical place . rooted from its beginning in Presbyterian connectionalism."

Following their joint remarks, the Bakers were hailed with a standing ovation as they received PCHARM's 2004 Children's Champion Award. Previous honorees have included former assembly moderators Doug Oldenburg and Freda Gardner.

The Rev. Cheryl Ann Elfond, general presbyter of the Presbytery of North Central Iowa, knew the Bakers when all three worked in Transylvania Presbytery. "Their gifts of insight, of concern and care and community-building as well as social awareness - in particular issues around children - were a great gift to the presbytery," Elfond said. "I'm very happy that they are receiving this award today, and made a point of coming to this lunch because their ministry meant so much to me."

In his opening remarks, Lyle Hamilton, the church relations coordinator at Intermountain Children's Homes and Services, in Helena, MT., had characterized PCHARM, which was founded in 1999 to be a resource and advocate in the church on the issues of children and families, as a "precocious 5-year old."

"We want Presbyterians to know that the Presbyterian denomination - and all of its adherents, members, and others - minister to children in some wonderful, life-redeeming and life-giving ways," Hamilton said.