Announcing 2016 alumni award recipients

The founder of a “dinner church.” An educator and pastor who has led explosive growth at her church. A nonprofit and social justice leader. The president and CEO of an organization moving the American economy towards greater justice and sustainability.

These are the leaders honored by Yale Divinity School in its 2016 Alumni Awards, to be given at Convocation and Reunions on October 20. Here is more on each of the four award recipients. (Background on each of the awards is available at this page on the YDS website.)

Emily Scott ‘06 M.Div.
The Alumni Award for Distinction in Congregational Ministry

Emily Scott is the founding pastor of St. Lydia’s, a dinner church in Brooklyn where her congregation worships around a sacred meal that they cook and eat together. She describes her ministry as “creating space for moments of transcendence through ritual.” Her worship has been described as innovative and an example of ways to engage the millennial generation. Trained as a liturgist and musician at YDS and the Institute of Sacred Music, Rev. Scott founded St. Lydia’s in collaboration with colleague Rachel Pollak and congregants in 2009, and was ordained as a pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America in 2012.

Judy Fentress-Williams ‘90 M.Div.
The Alumni Award for Distinction in Theological Education

Judy Fentress-Williams is Professor of Old Testament at Virginia Theological Seminary and senior assistant to the pastor at Alfred Street Baptist Church, a thriving church in Alexandria, Virginia, that has experienced record growth. Rev. Williams is widely recognized for her contributions to the infrastructure and educational programming that have fueled the growth of this church, where 80 percent of new members are in their 30s and 40s. Known for her support of new ministers. Rev. Williams is a frequent preacher and worship leader, and she serves as the church’s primary Bible study instructor.

Charles King ’83 M.Div. ‘89 J.D.
The William Sloane Coffin ‘56 Award for Peace and Justice
Charles King is an important figure in the nonprofit and social justice world who has been on the forefront of efforts to address HIV/AIDS, homelessness, and healthcare. He is a founding member of Act Up, (AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power), and a co-founder of Housing Works, a New York City-based nonprofit dedicated to serving the city’s homeless men, women, and children living with HIV and AIDS.

Robert Massie ‘82 M.Div.
Lux et Veritas
Robert Massie is President and CEO of the New Economics Institute, an organization dedicated to moving the American economy towards greater justice and sustainability. An ordained Episcopal priest, Dr. Massie is President of Ceres, the largest coalition of investors and environmental groups in the United States, and co-founder of the Global Reporting Initiative, an independent international standards organization that helps businesses and governments understand their impact on issues such as climate change, human rights, and corruption. Dr. Massie is also co-founder of Lifeworth, a consulting firm that connects people and organizations to foster discovery of innovative ideas and projects that contribute to a fair and sustainable society.

June 20, 2016