On Thursday evening, the ELCIC Leadership Award was presented to Ben Johnston-Urey of the Synod of Alberta and the Territories.
Introduced in 2017 as a part of the ELCIC’s commemoration of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, the award is given to an individual – rostered or lay – who demonstrates leadership and is committed to advancing the mission and ministry of the ELCIC.
“Tonight, we honour an exceptional leader whose vision, compassion, and deep commitment to the gospel have made a profound impact within their congregation, community, and far beyond,” said Trina Gallop Blank, Assistant to the National Bishop for Communications and Resource Generation, during the award presentation. “Tonight, we recognize not only their remarkable leadership, but also their enduring witness to Living out God’s grace and unconditional love.”
Johnston-Urey is the fourth recipient of the ELCIC Leadership Award. He joins recipients Don Storch (2017), Carolyn Ethier (2019) and Pat Lovell (2023).
“I am honoured, I am humbled, and I am deeply thankful. I am very touched by this. Thank you.” Johnston-Urey said upon reception. “I am so honoured and thankful to be among all of you tonight, and all of us who are called to carry the Lutheran expression of Christ in our world.”
A member of Trinity, Whitehorse, Yukon, Johnston-Urey has served the wider church in numerous ways, most notably as a composer and author of liturgies as director of worship and outreach in his lay-led Yukon congregation.
“For the many layers of leadership that uplifts us and comes before us, for God’s grace that goes ahead of us, I give thanks. May the work of love be done, may the song of Christ be sung, here and now in our midst,” Johnston-Urey added.
“I am tremendously grateful and thankful to be a part of a church where I have been able to learn and grow from so many, to share, be welcomed and feel included – what a gift. It is a true blessing, the kind that extends outward in every direction.”
