Skinner Sermon Award

Presented annually to the preacher of the sermon best expressing Unitarian Universalism's social principles.

The Skinner Sermon Award honors the late dean of the Tufts College School of Religion in Medford, MA. Born in Brooklyn, NY, in 1881, Clarence Skinner was a major voice of prophetic religious liberalism. As Professor of Applied Christianity at Tufts College (now Tufts University) from 1914 to 1945, he introduced generations of Tufts students to the social, economic, and political realities which shape religion and are in turn shaped by it. His manifesto, The Social Implications of Universalism (1915), gave American Universalism an ethical platform by stating the religious underpinnings of such reforms as anti-slavery, women's liberation, and the humane treatment of prisoners.

In 1920, in cooperation with Mrs. Skinner, Mrs. Gertrude Winslow, and the Rev. John Haynes Holmes of New York, Professor Skinner established the Community Church of Boston. He served as its spiritual leader for sixteen years. Along with the Community Church of New York, the Boston congregation symbolized the congruence of religion and democracy by welcoming many points of view to its pulpit.

In 1933, Professor Skinner was appointed Dean of the School of Religion. During his twelve-year incumbency, he produced a number of substantial works, including Liberalism Faces the Future and A Religion for Greatness. His book-length essay, "Worship and the Well-Ordered Life," appeared in 1955, six years after his death at the age of 68.

Open to any Unitarian Universalist layperson, religious educator, or minister, the award was established to stimulate preaching concerned with the social implications of religion-particularly needed in this period of history. Criteria employed in judging the sermons include: grasp of the subject, religious depth, originality, conviction, and understanding of other perspectives. These qualities are also considered: prophecy and timeliness, courage, personal involvement, strong argument, orientation to action, and inspiration.

The award carries an honorarium of $500. The sermon is delivered by the author in a special worship service at the General Assembly. Individuals may submit only one entry to the Skinner Sermon Award Committee.

1. Entry must be typed, double-spaced, using one side of the paper.
2. Six copies of each entry must be included. These entries will not be returned.
3. A single cover page must be submitted with author's name, address, church affiliation, and indication of when and where the sermon was delivered. It is important to keep authorship of each entry anonymous. Be sure there is no identification on or within the text of the sermon.
4. Entries are due March 1. Entries received after this date will not be considered.
5. The winning sermon will be widely distributed and promoted through a variety of UUA communications channels. Please note: There is a change this year. The Skinner Sermon winner does not need to attend GA to present this sermon; however the winner will be announced publicly there.

Persons who have heard a meritorious sermon are invited to submit the sermon-with the permission of the author-to the Award Committee. Such submissions must also meet all requirements.

Nominations due: March 1

Contact: uuawo@uua.org

Send entries to:

Skinner Sermon Award Committee
c/o UUA Washington Office
1320 18th Street NW, Suite 300B
Washington DC · 20036-2026

2006 Recipient:

Ms. Joanne Giannino
First Universalist Society
Franklin, MA
Saving Souls

Previous Recipients:

2005 - Rev. Sue Phillips Keene, Unitarian Universalist Church Keene, NH, On Being An "Issue"
2004 - Rev. Joshua Mason Pawelek: Until All Are Equal: Refusing to Sign Marriage Licenses
2003 - Rev. Diane Teichert: Crown Thy Good
2002 - Rev. Edmund Robinson
2001 - Rev. Dr. Mykel Johnson
2000 - Ginger Luke
1999 - Rev. Jaco B. ten Hove
1998 - Victoria Safford
1997 - Rev. Dr. Fredric J. Muir

Unitarian Universalist Association
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