Rev. Timothy Keller and Sister Norma Pimentel Honored with an Award

October 17, 2023275 views0

Rev. Timothy Keller and Sister Norma Pimentel Honored with an Award

2023-10-17T10:30:50+01:00

By MO

The late Rev. Timothy Keller, an influential evangelical Christian theologian, and Catholic nun Sister Norma Pimentel, renowned for her compassionate work with migrants, have been named the first recipients of the Centre for Christianity and Public Life’s Civic Renewal Award. These distinguished awards seek to honour those who have made outstanding contributions to the well-being of their communities and the nation. The prizes will be presented at the CCPL’s inaugural summit next month, a conference dedicated to enhancing the credibility of Christian resources for the broader public good.The CCPL, initiated last year by Michael Wear, a former Obama administration official, is dedicated to raising the role of Christian resources in promoting a more vibrant public space. The Civic Renewal Award recognises those whose work transcends beyond the boundaries of religious communities, influencing society as a whole.“When the public thinks of Christian leadership, they should think of Christians who served the public, like Sr. Norma Pimentel and Tim Keller,” Michael Wear, the founder and head of CCPL, expressed in a statement.Wear, an evangelical Christian who was prominent in faith outreach efforts during Obama’s campaign and served in the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighbourhood Partnerships has put himself at the crossroads of religion and politics. “Reclaiming Hope: Lessons Learned in the Obama White House About the Future of Faith in America,” his book, looks into this topic. Prior to this, he worked as a political consultant for a variety of religious organisations.Rev. Timothy Keller, the founder and long-serving pastor of New York City’s Redeemer Presbyterian Church, is a member of the Presbyterian Church in America. Notably, he was a key figure in Keller’s Hope for New York, a faith-based organisation that funnels funding to nonprofit organisations dedicated to aiding the needy in New York City. Keller, who has long been linked with conservative Christianity, is praised for his “winsome” style to ministry, which emphasises grace and compassion. For those who admired his profound lectures and sermons, his death in May at the age of 72 marked the end of an era.Sister Norma Pimentel, on the other hand, is a Catholic nun who has gained international recognition for her untiring advocacy and service to marginalised and disadvantaged groups. In 2014, she made news for spearheading a Catholic Charities-run respite centre near the US-Mexico border, which provided vital aid to migrants after they were released by Border Patrol. Her work cut across political and theological lines, gaining her admiration from people all around the world, including Pope Francis, who fondly referred to her as “Pope Francis’ favourite nun.” Pimentel was awarded the Laetare Medal by the University of Notre Dame in 2018, an honour highly regarded within the United States Catholic Church.The award ceremony will take place in Washington, D.C. on November 6-7, as part of the Centre for Christianity and Public Life’s inaugural “For the Good of the Public” event. The awards will be presented to Sister Norma Pimentel and a spokesperson for the late Rev. Timothy Keller by distinguished persons including a CCPL board member and Michael Luo, editor of newyorker.com, in recognition of their extraordinary contributions to the well-being of their communities and the nation. The selection of Keller and Pimentel as the inaugural beneficiaries of the Civic Renewal Award emphasises the importance of Christian leadership that extends beyond the bounds of the church, thereby generating a positive impact in the community.