The Evangelical Press Association and the Associated Church Press, two professional organizations for Christian publishing, had their annual conventions in May, distributing awards for work produced in 2025. This year the ACP hosted its convention jointly, in Toronto, Ont., with the Canadian Christian Communicators Association.
The Banner received recognition in the EPA’s Higher Goals categories of biblical exposition, cartoon, and department. From the Associated Church Press, it received a second-place award of merit in the category of convention or meeting coverage.
Celebrating the Nicene Creed by Tim Howerzyl (Feb. 2025) received fourth place in the EPA’s biblical exposition category; A Church for Elijah by Chad Thompson (July/Aug. 2025) received fourth place in the cartoon category; and Mixed Media, The Banner’s wide-ranging reviews section edited by Lorilee Craker, received second place in the department category.
Judges in the biblical exposition category called Howerzyl’s piece, “A clear, comprehensive description of the story of the Nicene Creed. Winsomely expressed.” Of Thompson’s cartoon, judges said, “Very tightly rendered. This comic strip is a manual for helping people of all types to feel at home in church.” And of the Mixed Media section, judges said, “Very polished, very accessible, and most definitely meets the publication's goal to ‘show how the Christian faith in its Reformed expression makes sense for today's world.’ Well done!”
The Associated Church Press recognized The Banner’s 2025 synod coverage with a second-place award of merit. Anabaptist World was first in that category for “Followers and Proclaimers,” coverage of the 2025 Mennonite Church USA convention. Of The Banner’s coverage, judges said, “This well-executed package provides clear, thorough, and accessible coverage of Synod 2025, effectively guiding readers through complex decisions and denominational processes. The structure is particularly strong, breaking down key actions and discussions into manageable sections while maintaining narrative coherence. … The ‘In Our View’ framing adds interpretive depth, helping readers understand not just what happened, but why it matters.”