HomeMy WebLinkAboutTom Oye Human Rights Award Winner
Contact: Jennifer Bennerotte, Communications & Marketing Director
Phone 952-833-9520 • Fax 952-826-0389 • Web www.CityofEdina.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Local pastor to receive Tom Oye Human Rights Award
Edina, Minn., April 12, 2011 – The Edina Human Rights & Relations Commission will present the
Tom Oye Human Rights Award to a local pastor later this month.
Criteria for selection of the Tom Oye Human Rights Award include fostering respect and dignity for
others, modeling courage and compassion in the advancement of human rights, and demonstrating
leadership by example for improving and advancing human rights. This year, Good Samaritan United
Methodist Church Senior Pastor Dan Johnson has been selected to receive the prestigious honor.
Good Samaritan United Methodist Church has been a reconciling church that openly welcomes and
affirms gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people since 1995. According to his nominators,
Johnson, Senior Pastor at Good Samaritan Church for the past 12 years, has challenged his suburban
congregation to “step outside their comfort zone and embrace the Gospel’s call to show compassion
and do justice for all people, regardless of differences. On a host of issues from poverty and
homelessness to discrimination and equality, his message has been that all people are children of God
entitled to the same respect and dignity.”
Johnson advises churches grappling with the issues of becoming reconciling congregations; has lent his
name to Outfront Minnesota, a group working for marriage equity rights; and has designated a
Reconciling Sunday in his local church. He has been a spokesman for resolutions aimed at eliminating
discriminatory language in the United Methodist Book of Discipline. Johnson will continue to
champion human rights in his new Cabinet position as Director of Congregational Development in
the Minnesota Annual Conference of United Methodist Churches.
Johnson will be the 10th recipient of the Tom Oye Human Rights Award. Past winners include Mary
Ellingen, Karen Hazel, Rachael Pream Grenier, Ellen Kennedy, Kelly Fitzgerald, Debby McNeil, Shara
Mohtadi, Sandy Schley and Emma Weisberg.
The 2011 Tom Oye Human Rights Award will be presented to Johnson at 5 p.m. Thursday, April 28,
during the All-Volunteer Recognition Reception at Edinborough Park. Cost to attend is $20 per
person, which includes appetizers.
For more information on the award or to make a reservation for the All-Volunteer Recognition
Reception, contact Human Services Coordinator Susan Howl, 952-826-0403 or showl@ci.edina.mn.us.
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