Christian Retailing

LifeWay honors university president with ‘extremely rare’ award Print Email
Written by Jeremy Burns   
Tuesday, 17 September 2013 12:20 PM America/New_York

DavidSDockeryLifeWay Christian Resources has given its esteemed Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB) Award to Union University President David S. Dockery. Sept. 13. The award is the highest honor that LifeWay confers, according to a statement from the university.

LifeWay President Thom Rainer called the recognition “extremely rare” in his announcement of the award Sept. 13 at Union’s G.M. Savage Memorial Chapel. Only one other HCSB Award has been bestowed, which was given posthumously to pastor Fred Winters, who was shot and killed during a worship service at his Maryville, Ill., church.

“The award recognizes biblical fidelity and an extraordinary commitment to teaching and preaching the Word of God,” wrote Selma Wilson, president of LifeWay’s B&H Publishing Group, in a statement read by Rainer. “Our committee is highly selective in making this award. We have waited over four years before naming the second recipient of the HCSB Award.”

“[Dockery’s] books on biblical authority and interpretation are seminal works,” Wilson’s statement continued. “His academic and statesman leadership is known around the world and admired by thousands.”

Dockery called the award “incredibly humbling and most meaningful.”

“When Dr. Rainer made the announcement today, I was both completely surprised and quite overwhelmed,” Dockery said in the release from the university. “I am deeply honored by this recognition, and I want to express my genuine appreciation to Dr. Rainer and all of those at LifeWay who were involved in this decision.”

LifeWay will formally present the award to Dockery during the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting in Baltimore next June.