Writing Award for Social Justice Issues

A new national writing award, the Debra Fieguth Social Justice Award, was launched as part of The Word Awards in 2017.

Debra’s friends and colleagues are sponsoring this award to honour the person of Debra, her writing and editing career, and her commitment to living out the Christian ethos of love for neighbour, love for stranger, generous hospitality, and concern for social justice. Debra passed away unexpectedly in 2016.

She was a gifted journalist, whose freelance work appeared in many Canadian Christian publications, including Faith Today magazine. During her career, she was editor of BC Christian News in Vancouver; associate editor of ChristianWeek newspaper in Winnipeg; and social justice coordinator for the Anglican Diocese of Ontario in Kingston, ON. She authored Keepers of the Faith (2001) and The Door is Open: Glimpses of Hospitality in the Kingdom of God (2010), and contributed to several books, most recently Evangelicals Around The World: A Global Handbook for the 21st Century (Thomas Nelson, 2015).

“Mama Debra’s” loss was mourned by many, including hundreds of refugees, immigrants and international students from 40 countries whom she had helped, befriended or welcomed into her home.

You can find out more about Debra in this tribute by journalist Sue Careless published in The Anglican Journal “Remembering Debra Fieguth, journalist and activist, 62”. http://www.anglicanjournal.com/articles/remembering-debra-fieguth-journalist-and-activist-62

The Debra Fieguth Social Justice Award Eligibility

Any Canadian writer who is Christian (or his/her publisher) may enter work that has been published in the General or Christian Market which encompasses the theme of social justice and love for neighbour. The subject matter for social justice issues is broad, including concern for the poorest and most vulnerable members of society, respect for the inherent value and dignity of all people, compassion for the hurting and needy, and demonstrating Christian love in word and deed through embodying Christ’s teaching that “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:40 NIV)

The writing may be in any genre (fiction, nonfiction, article, book, column, poetry, song lyrics, script, etc.).

The work is subject to all the regular guidelines for The Word Awards. In order to be eligible for consideration for the special Debra Fieguth Social Justice Award, the work must also be entered in at least one other relevant category in The Word Awards. There is no additional entry fee for the Debra Fieguth Social Justice Award, but entrants must complete the appropriate section of the entry form indicating which work they wish to be considered for this award.

The winner will receive a cash prize of $200, a special plaque, and recognition during a presentation at The Word Awards Celebration.

DONATIONS

Additional sponsors are welcome to fund this award in future years. All donations of $10 or more are eligible for charitable receipts from The Word Guild. Online donations receive electronic receipts immediately. Donations may be made online using PayPal, credit card or cheque at https://thewordguild.com/donate/donate-now/. Choose the “In Memory of” option and fill in the name Debra Fieguth.

For payment by cheque, please make it payable to The Word Guild, with “The Debra Fieguth Social Justice Award” written on the Memo line. After you have filled in the online information, mail the cheque plus a printed copy of the online receipt to The Word Guild’s administration office: The Word Guild, Box 77001, Markham ON L3P 0C8

QUESTIONS

Email awards@thewordguild.com with “The Debra Fieguth Social Justice Award” in the subject line, or telephone 800-969-9010

HOW TO APPLY

• How to apply: indicate eligibility with a contest entry in any published genre (book or article/short piece)
• Submission form: Submission Form – Published Works