Each year at the General Assembly, an award is given to recognize a person or group for their work on the cutting edge of mission.

Joan Masterton, Convener of the Cutting Edge of Mission Committee

History

The Dr. E.H. Johnson Memorial Fund was established in 1981 to continue the Rev. Dr. Edward “Ted” Hewlitt Johnson’s commitment to a global view of mission and to extend the horizons of that mission. He lived his view of and commitment to mission through service with his wife Kitty as missionaries of The Presbyterian Church in Canada in Manchuria and as Secretary for Overseas Missions. He also became involved in ecumenical agencies covering many aspects of mission. When Dr. Johnson was elected Moderator of the 95th General Assembly, mission in all its variety and aspects marked his service in that office.

What is “Cutting-Edge Mission”?

Read more about “the cutting edge of mission” in this Presbyterian Connection newspaper article from the Fall 2017 edition by the Rev. Dr. Glynis Williams, Associate Secretary, International Ministries.

Donate Now to the Memorial Fund

The Award

For Service on the Cutting Edge of Mission

In making the award, the committee desires to recognize both the person and the church or organization with whom the person works, with the understanding that God’s mission is incarnated in relationships with sisters and brothers.

The recipient delivers an address to commissioners and guests at the General Assembly. The address is made available in print and is posted on the website. The recipient often makes time available for meetings with leaders in the wider church and secular society and with congregations.

Begun in 1983, the award recipients comprise a list of distinguished church leaders, both in Canada and countries around the world. Our award winners in the last several years have been Dr. Elsa Tamez, Dr. David Pandy-Szekeres, the Very Rev. Dr. John Dunlop, the Rev. Nangula E. Kathindi, the Rev. Dr. Clifton Kirkpatrick, the Rev. Dr. Setri Nyomi, Ms. Karuna Roy, Dr. Ernie Regehr, Dr. Mercy Oduyoye and His Excellency Archbishop Elias Chacour.

Between 1983 and 1989

Presbyterian Church of Nigeria

  • Dr. Mfon Ekpa, medical doctor
  • Ms. Maureen Addie, geologist and educator

Korean Christian Church in Japan

  • The Rev. Mi-Woong Park, pastor
  • Mr. Keven Fletcher, theological student

Church of Central Africa Presbyterian

  • The Rev. Saul Chitsulo, synod staff
  • Mrs. Eda E. Chitalo, politician, leader in women’s movement
  • Mr. Willie Tsokonombwe, carpenter, youth leader
  • The Rev. Wallace and Mrs. Audrey Little, minister and lay leader

1990–1991

China Christian Council

  • Ms. Juzhen Wang, engineer, inventor, laywoman
  • Mrs. Elizabeth Denton, wife and mother, community leader, nutritionist

1992–1993

Middle East Council of Churches

  • Ms. Maha Samara, journalist
  • Rev. Raymond Glen, minister

1995–1996

Presbyterian Church of Korea

  • The Rev. Kim, Yong Soo, minister
  • The Rev. Moon, Sung Nam, minister
  • Glenn Mount, elder and Session clerk
  • The Rev. Cheol Soon Park, minister
  • Barbara Marshall, elder

1998–1999

Presbyterian-Reformed Church in Cuba

  • The Rev. Francisco Marrero, minister professor
  • Elder Yolanda Alonso
  • Janice Carter, editor, Presbyterian Message
  • June Stevenson, editor, Glad Tidings

1999–2001

Church of Scotland

  • Mrs. Fiona Campbell, elder, national leader in Women’s Guild
  • The Rev. Andrew Campbell, parish minister, Oban, Scotland
  • The Rt. Rev. John Miller and Mrs. Mary Miller, Moderator

Church of Scotland and inner-city workers

  • Deborah Schlichter, elder, Executive Director, House of Friendship, Kitchener, Ontario
  • David Smith, Director, Evangel Hall, Toronto

2012

Presbyterian-Reformed Church in Cuba

  • The Rev. Daniel Izquierdo, Moderator

International Association for Mission Studies

  • Susan N’ganga

2003

  • The Rev. Nangula E. Kathindi, General Secretary, Council of Churches in Namibia

2002

  • The Very Rev. Dr. John Dunlop, Former Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland; peace activist

2001

  • Dr. David Pandy-Szekeres, General Director of Schools for the Hungarian Reformed Church of the sub-Carpathian Ukraine

2000

  • Dr. Elsa Tamez, Professor of Biblical Theology, Seminario Biblico Latinoamericano, San Jose, Costa Rica; women’s advocate

1999

  • The Rev. John Bell, Church of Scotland, on behalf of Iona Community; composer of hymns; inner-city youth worker

1998

  • The Rev. Héctor Méndez, Pastor of First Presbyterian-Reformed Church in Cuba; ecumenist

1997

  • The Rev. Dr. John Fife, Past Moderator, PCUSA; co-leader of Sanctuary Movement for Central American refugees

1996

  • The Rev. Dr. Daniel Szabo, Chief Curator, Hungarian Reformed Church

1995

  • The Rev. Dr. Timothy Njoya, minister, Presbyterian Church of East Africa, Kenya

1994

  • The Rev. Dr. John McIntosh and Dr. Clarabeth McIntosh, minority rights leaders with the Korean Christian Church in Japan

1993

  • Archbishop Desmond Mpilo Tutu, President of the All Africa Conference of Churches; Nobel Laureate

1992

  • The Rev. Russell Self, Presbyterian missionary; Bible Society leader

1991

  • The Rev. Glenda B. Hope, inner-city minister in San Francisco

1990

  • The Rev. Barbel Wartenberg-Potter, theologian; advocate against injustice; ecumenist

1989

  • Barbara Jackman, Canadian advocate for refugee and immigration rights

1988

  • Gabriel Habib, General Secretary, Middle East Council of Churches

1987

  • The Rev. Dr. Beyers Naude, General Secretary, South African Council of Churches

1986

  • The Rev. Dr. C.M. Kao, General Secretary, Presbyterian Church in Taiwan

1985

  • Most Reverend Edward Scott, Archbishop, Primate, Anglican Church of Canada

1984

  • The Rev. Dr. In Ha Lee, minister, The Korean Christian Church in Japan

1983

  • The Rev. Dr. Roy G. Neehall, General Secretary, Caribbean Conference of Churches

Cutting Edge of Mission Vol. 3

Contains the texts of addresses given by award recipients (2003–2012) at the General Assembly luncheons. These are powerful insights on faith and mission from 10 remarkable servants of God.

Cutting Edge of Mission Vol. 2

A collection of addresses made by award recipients from 1993–2002. The speeches challenge us to reflect deeply on where we have been in mission and where we are being called in God’s mission in the world.

How to Order

Browse, search for and order resources through our online order form. You can also call 1-800-619-7301 ext. 331 or send an email.

Previous Award Recipients

2021

The Canadian Centre to End Human Trafficking
Accepted by Julia Drydyk, (Executive Director) on behalf of the organization
Video | Presentation

2019
Sheila Watt-Cloutier
Sheila Watt-Cloutier
Environmental, Cultural and Human Rights Advocate
Video | Presentation

2018
Dr. George Sabra
Dr. George Sabra
Professor of Systematic Theology and President of the Near East School of Theology (NEST) in Beirut, Lebanon
Video | Presentation

2017
Dr. Cindy Blackstock
Dr. Cindy Blackstock
Executive Director of the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada
Presentation

2016
Dr. Bernard Sabella
Dr. Bernard Sabella
Executive Secretary of the Department of Service to Palestinian Refugees (DSPR) in Jerusalem
Video | Presentation

2015
Canadian Council for Refugees Conseil canadien pour les réfugiés
Canadian Council for Refugees Conseil canadien pour les réfugiés
Accepted by Loly Rico (President) and Janet Dench (Executive Director) on behalf of the organization
Presentation

2014
Canadian Foodgrains Bank
Canadian Foodgrains Bank
Accepted by Don Peters (Board Chair) and Jim Cornelius (Executive Director) on behalf of the organization
Presentation

2013
Rev. Dr. Abraham Berinyuu
Rev. Dr. Abraham Berinyuu
Campaigner for Disability Rights; Champion for Ethnic Reconciliation
Presentation

2012
Sister Eun Sook Han
Sister Eun Sook Han
A Founder and Member of the Diakonia Sisterhood in Korea
Presentation

2011
Boarding Homes Ministry
Boarding Homes Ministry
Accepted by Rev. Rodger Hunter, Chaplain
Presentation

2010
Rev. Dr. Terry LeBlanc
Rev. Dr. Terry LeBlanc
Founder, North American Institute for Indigenous Theological Studies
Presentation

2009
Archbishop Elias Chacour
Archbishop Elias Chacour
Melkite Catholic Archbishop of Akka, Haifa, Nazareth and all Galilee; Founder, Mar Elias Educational Institutions
Presentation

2008
Dr. Mercy Oduyoye
Dr. Mercy Oduyoye
Founder, The Circle of Concerned African Women Theologians
Presentation

2007
Dr. Ernie Regehr
Dr. Ernie Regehr
Co-Founder, Project Ploughshares
Presentation

2006
Ms. Karuna Roy
Ms. Karuna Roy
Coordinator, HIV/AIDS Program, Church of North India
Presentation

2005
Rev. Dr. Setri Nyomi
Rev. Dr. Setri Nyomi
General Secretary, The World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC)
Presentation

2004
Rev. Dr. Clifton Kirkpatrick
Rev. Dr. Clifton Kirkpatrick
Stated Clerk of the Presbyterian Church (USA)
Presentation

2003
Rev. Nangula E. Kathindi
Rev. Nangula E. Kathindi
General Secretary, Council of Churches in Namibia
Presentation

2002
The Very Rev. Dr. John Dunlop
The Very Rev. Dr. John Dunlop
Former Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland; peace activist
Presentation

2001
Dr. David Pandy-Szekeres
Dr. David Pandy-Szekeres
General Director of Schools for the Hungarian Reformed Church of the sub-Carpathian Ukraine
Presentation

2000
Dr. Elsa Tamez
Dr. Elsa Tamez
Professor of Biblical Theology, Seminario Biblico Latinoamericano, San-Jose, Costa Rica; women’s advocate
Presentation

1999
Rev. John Bell
Rev. John Bell
Church of Scotland, on behalf of Iona Community; composer of hymns; inner-city youth worker
Presentation

1998
Rev. Héctor Méndez
Rev. Héctor Méndez
Pastor of the First Presbyterian-Reformed Church in Cuba; ecumenist
Presentation

1997
Rev. Dr. John Fife
Rev. Dr. John Fife
Past Moderator, PCUSA; co-leader of Sanctuary Movement for Central American refugees
Presentation

1996
Rev. Dr. Daniel Szabo
Rev. Dr. Daniel Szabo
Chief Curator, Hungarian Reformed Church
Presentation

1995
Rev. Dr. Timothy Njoya
Rev. Dr. Timothy Njoya
Minister, Presbyterian Church of East Africa, Kenya
Presentation

1994
Rev. Dr. John McIntosh and Dr. Clarabeth McIntosh
Rev. Dr. John McIntosh and Dr. Clarabeth McIntosh
Minority Rights leaders with The Korean Christian Church in Japan
Presentation

1993
Archbishop Desmond Mpilo Tutu
Archbishop Desmond Mpilo Tutu
President of the All Africa Conference of Churches; Nobel Laureate
Presentation

1992
Rev. Russell Self
Rev. Russell Self
Presbyterian missionary; Bible Society leader

1991
Rev. Glenda B. Hope
Rev. Glenda B. Hope
Inner City Minister in San Francisco

1990
Rev. Barbel Wartenburg-Potter
Rev. Barbel Wartenburg-Potter
Theologian; advocate against injustice; ecumenist

1989
Ms. Barbara Jackman
Ms. Barbara Jackman
Canadian advocate for refugee and immigration rights

1988
Mr. Gabriel Habibe
Mr. Gabriel Habibe
General Secretary, Middle East Council of Churches

1987
Rev. Dr. Byers Naude
Rev. Dr. Byers Naude
General Secretary, South African Council of Churches; anti-apartheid activist

1986
Rev. Dr. C.M. Kao
Rev. Dr. C.M. Kao
General Secretary, Presbyterian Church in Taiwan

1985
Most Reverend Edward Scott
Most Reverend Edward Scott
Archbishop, Primate, Anglican Church of Canada

1984
Rev. Dr. In Ha Lee
Rev. Dr. In Ha Lee
Minister, The Korean Christian Church in Japan

1983
Rev. Dr. Roy G. Neehall
Rev. Dr. Roy G. Neehall
General Secretary, Caribbean Conference of Churches

Committee Members

  • The Rev. Joan Masterton (convener), Dr. Rick Allen, the Rev. Dr. Nancy Cocks, Ms. Elizabeth Phillipson, the Rev. Bob Smith, the Rev. Gordon Timbers.
  • Ex Officio: The Rev. Ian Ross-McDonald, General Secretary, Life and Mission Agency, the Rev. Dr. Glynis Williams, Associate Secretary, International Ministries, Life and Mission Agency (secretary)