Scott, who was elected first in 1992, was introduced by the Rev. Elenora Giddings Ivory, the director of the PC(USA)'s Washington Office, as the first American of Filipino heritage to serve in Congress.

One of two recipients of the Washington Office's annual Partnership in Mission for Public Policy Advocacy Awards, Scott based his remarks on the passage in Matthew 25 about ministering to the hungry, the sick, the imprisoned.

Scott said religious organizations "have always been in the forefront of addressing the country's most pressing social needs."

He spoke about the Bush Administration's "faith-based initiatives," the acceptance of discrimination in American society, unfairness in the criminal justice system, and the challenges to civil rights inherent in the USA PATRIOT Act and the proposed Federal Marriage Amendment.

Referring to recent hearings on the marriage measure, Scott said, "We haven't had time to discuss . the right to health care, or the right to vote, or how people can be held without charges. This is an amendment to deny the rights of some people to get the rights, benefits, and responsibilities of marriage."

He praised the Washington Office for its involvement in defense of civil rights, and said that Giddings Ivory had "testified to make sure that people knew the Presbyterian Church agrees that civil rights and non-discrimination ought to apply to all of God's children."

His speech, peppered with wit, humor and passion, earned a standing ovation.

The other award recipient was the Restoring Creation House Church, called under guidance from the Session at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Harrisonburg, VA. It was presented by Carolynn Race, the Washington Office's associate for domestic issues.

"The Restoring Creation House Church responded to the call of the 202nd General Assembly, which in 1990 adopted a policy report, Restoring Creation for Ecology and Justice ," she said. "The work (of the church) on eco-justice issues has been invaluable. .Members . have been leaders in the PC(USA), speaking truth to those in power about the need to restore God's creation for ecology and justice."

The dinner also featured an entreaty for support for an Internship Fund created by Semper Reformanda, the PC(USA) renewal group, in partnership with the Washington Office. "We thank you for your commitment to help support the important work of interns in our Washington Office," said Nile Harper of Ann Arbor, MI, the chair of the Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy. An extra commitment opportunity account has been established to support the fund.