BTI Humanitarian Award
In recognition of outstanding and empathetic work on behalf of the bereaved in the related fields of pastoral care, social work, and medicine. Psalm 46
Boston Theological Institute Humanitarian Award Recipients
1. 1996 Connie S. Bickford, Establishment of the Annual Bereavement Seminar for Seminarians; Field Educator, Boston University School of Theology
2. 1997 Merle R. Jordan, Work in fields of Psychology and Theology, the Danielson Boston University School of Theology
3. 1998 Sister Zita M. Fleming, C.J.S., Ministry to AJDS patients
4. 1999 Mary Robinson, Director of Pastoral Care, Children's Hospital, Boston
5. 2000 Maria Trozzi, Director of The Good Grief Program, Boston Medical Center; author of Talking With Children About Loss
6. 2001 Judith Lewis Herman, MD, Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical Director of Training, Victims of Violence Program at Cambridge Hospital
7. 2002 Victor Scalise, Jr., Minister; Director, National Center for Death Education, Mt. Ida College
8. 2003 The Salvation Army (Major William Bode receiving for the SA)
9. 2004 Rev. Dr. Raymond Hammond and Rev. Dr. and Gloria White Hammond
10. 2005 Vivial Li, for work with the City of Boston
11. 2006 Bessel van der Kolk and the Trauma Center
12. 2007 Ruth Bersin, for work withi the Refugee Immigration Ministry
13. 2008 Deborah Little Wyman, for work with the Common Cathedral
14. 2009 Robin Casarjian, for work with the Lionheart Foundation
15. 2010 Richard Nethercut, for work with the Alternatives to Violence Project
16. 2011 Sophia Nibi, Director of Philoxenia
HISTORY & CRITERIA FOR THE ANNUAL HUMANITARIAN AWARD
The BTI Humanitarian Award was first given out in 1996 in association with the Affiliated Family Funeral Homes in recognition of persons actively engaged in the ministry of care for the bereaved (education, pastoral work, chaplaincy, social work), hospice care (medicine and allied fields), and persons who have personally experienced personal loss in their own lives and can speak empathetically.
The first award recipient was Connie S. Bickford, Field Education Director, Boston University School of Theology. She was selected because of her efforts in establishing the Bereavement Seminar for Seminarians. The second recipient was Dr. Merle R. Jordan, Professor of Psychology and Theology and Director of the Danielson Center, Boston University School of Theology. He was selected because of his years of educating future pastors the skills they would need to meet the practical pastoral challenges of the dying and bereaved. The third award recipient was Sister Zita M. Fleming, C. J. S. She was selected because of her compassionate work with patients, many suffering from HIV-AIDS. In these three recipients we see one of the major components that mark this award.
The Humanitarian Award seeks to honor those who represent the best in a Humanitarian tradition of caring for others. By choosing such a person or persons, the Field Education Directors seek to identify good ministry practices as perhaps embodied in the tradition of the Good Samaritan which might be a model and a source of encouragement for others.
We are looking for people who have made a compassionate difference in their treatment of the bereaved. Such a person should be an inordinate caregiver, have contributed to the larger community but may be unrecognized – and yet who is extraordinary in care given and humanitarian concern.
Process of the Award
1. Nomination is made among the BTI Field Education Directors in the Fall of a given academic year;
2. The name is forwarded to the BTI Board of Trustees for ratification (usually at the Second or Third Quarter meeting of the Board);
3. The Humanitarian Award is given at an appropriate time in the schedule of the consortium and at a public event.
Psalms 46
1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea; 3 though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult. (Selah) 4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. 5 God is in the midst of the city; it shall not be moved; God will help it when the morning dawns. 6 The nations are in an uproar, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts. 7 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. (Selah) 8 Come, behold the works of the Lord; see what desolations he has brought on the earth. 9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow, and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire. 10 "Be still, and know that I am God! I am exalted among the nations, I am exalted in the earth." 11 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. (NRSV)
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