First Annual Beacon Press Sermon Contest Winner

General Assembly 2002 Event 5015

Sponsor: Beacon Press

Susan Kingman

The winner of this year’s 2002 Beacon Press Sermon Award was Susan Kingman, who delivered her address, "All a Matter of Perspective" for a rapt audience. The sermon was preached in honor of Martin Luther King Day at First Parish Church of Watertown, MA. The sermon, which analyzed the spiritual impact of violence, was based on Fist, Stick, Knife, Gun, by Geoffrey Canada. Readings were from Canada’s books and from Broken Umbrellas by Kate Spohn (New York: Viking, 1994).

Kingman recently completed her seminary training at Andover Newton Theological School and is a candidate for Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) ministerial fellowship. She served as a student minister at First Parish of Watertown for the past two years. She lives in Franklin, NH, with her husband Jeffrey and their two and a half-year-old daughter Grace.

Before attending seminary, Kingman served as a police officer for five years. She traveled around the world both as a police officer for Semester at Sea, and through the Rotary International Exchange Program. Kingman has also worked in higher education as an administrator and instructor. She earned her undergraduate degree in religion and sociology from the University of Vermont and a Master’s degree in adult development from Vermont College.

Rev. David Hubner, Director of Ministry and Professional Leadership, lit the chalice. Helene Atwan, Director of Beacon Press, introduced Ms. Kingman.

Runners-Up

Rev. Richard Venus of the Miami Valley Unitarian Fellowship in Dayton, Ohio for "A Life of Protest: Derrick Bell and Harvard Law" based on Confronting Authority: Reflections of an Ardent Protester by Derrick A. Bell

Rev. Dr. Mark Belletini of First Unitarian Universalist Church in Columbus, OH, for "On Killing the Guilty," based on In Our Own Best Interest: How Defending Human Rights Benefits Us All, by Rev. William F. Schulz and New and Selected Poems, by Mary Oliver.

Reported by Bob Hurst.