The first winner of the Fred Craddock Award for Excellence in Preaching created a virtual ‘valley of dry bones’ with the hymnals of Greenfield Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) illustrating the Dry Bones passage. “As we picked up the hymnals to sing, inspired by the Word of God, we felt like God’s Spirit made those texts come alive within us,” recalled Rick Spleth, regional minister of the Christian Church of Indiana: www.indianadisciples.org

He remembered the sermon Callie Smith preached at her home church. “I have seldom heard a better preacher!” 

The award was presented to Smith during a dinner sponsored by the Disciples of Christ Historical Society, www.discipleshistory.org, and the Council on Christian Unity www.disciples.org/ccu which was a part of the Disciples’ 2009 General Assembly in Indianapolis.

A graduate of Christian Theological Seminary, Indianapolis, www.cts.edu, Smith is the project manager of the Office of Lifelong Theological Education at CTS and a candidate for ordination in the Indiana Region. 

Smith has served on the staff of Greenfield Christian Church, Greenfield, Ind.

The award, to be given annually, highlights the importance of biblical preaching in the life of the church and encourages younger ministers to give their best to the high calling of the pulpit and the word, Spleth said. The Disciples of Christ Historical Society partnered with the Craddock Center, http://www.craddockcenter.org, to create the award.

Spleth said the name Fred Craddock needs no introduction among Disciples or among anyone involved in the life of Christ’s Church. “The words Craddock and preaching will forever be joined so it is fitting that this special award carries such an honored name.”

This award points out how much excellent preaching is going on among Disciples, he said. Nominations for the award came from across the U.S. and Canada. Every nominee exhibited the skills and passion necessary to receive the award.

By: David Shank