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June 19, 2009

‘Very human’ history honored by PWG

Story of Louisville congregation wins Presbyterian first-book award

by John Sniffen
Special to the Presbyterian News Service

Cathy Chisholm, award winners Linda Raymond Ellison and Bill Ellison, and Presbyterian Writers Guild president Bill Lancaster. Photo by John Sniffen

ATLANTA, June 13 — A unique “human” history of a Louisville, KY, congregation earned its co-authors the Presbyterian Writers Guild’s Angell Award for best first book by a Presbyterian author in 2008.

Linda Raymond Ellison and Bill Ellison, a wife and husband writing team, received the award for Like Jacob’s Well: The Very Human History of Highland Presbyterian Church here today during a Presbyterian Communicators Network National Conference luncheon. The network was meeting here in conjunction with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s Big Tent event.

The Ellisons’ book was unanimously selected over 13 other entries judged by a committee of writers in Texas. The other entries included works on a wide variety of topics produced by Presbyterian ministers, scholars and journalists. The Ellisons are the first co-authors to win the prize.

The judges said, “We learn much from the authors’ full characterization of the congregation’s struggles, successes, and service through two world wars, the Great Depression, a massive local flood, and racial integration. Through all of these events, the members' faith gave them strength not just to survive, but to be leaders in the community and in the denomination.”

“It is more than just a church history,” said presenter Cathy Chisholm, a Writer’s Guild member and past Angell Award recipient. “It’s about the life of the denomination and the country during the last 125 years.”

Linda Ellison said it was decided from the start that the church’s 125-year history would be placed in the context of what else was going on in the denomination and world. “We were going to include the human things, you know, sex and violence.”

What they found in doing the research and writing, she said, were instances of incredible insight and courage, and other examples of “Presbyterian being dumber than bricks” for ignoring the injustice that was around them.

“We embrace a hope that people will read the book and think and discuss questions such as ‘What is a church? What is a pastor? What is God calling his people to do?’”

The book may be purchased through Highland Presbyterian Church, 1011 Cherokee Rd., Louisville, KY 40204-1213 or from Carmichael's Bookstore, 2720 Frankfort Ave., Louisville, KY 40206.

The Angell Award, which includes a $500 prize, honors the memory of James Angell, a prolific pastor-author and member of the Presbyterian Writers Guild.

John Sniffen is associate editor of Presbyterians Today magazine.