Southwestern College faculty member Stephen Rankin is the recipient of the 2007 Francis Asbury Award, announced at the annual meeting of the Kansas West Conference of the United Methodist Church.
The Asbury Award recognizes individuals who continue to faithfully guide the church in ministries to and within the higher education learning community.
It is named for Francis Asbury, who in 1791 challenged all Methodists to “give the key of knowledge in a general way to your children, and those of the poor in the vicinity of your small towns and villages.”
Rankin is professor of religious studies and Southwestern College chaplain.
“I am pleased and gratified,” Rankin said, in a written a statement. “I am also very aware that when one person gets the award, there’s always a team of people doing some important things that makes the award happen. Ashlee (Alley), Martin (Rude), Steve (Wilke), and I get to do some pretty important things here.”
According to Luther B. Felder II, assistant general secretary for the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry, Rankin was nominated for this honor by the Annual Conference Board of Higher Education and Campus Ministry.
They recognized Rankin’s “faithful labors in supporting, strengthening, and promoting the church’s work in this important arena,” he said.
Southwestern College is a private institution granting undergraduate and graduate degrees and is affiliated with the United Methodist Church.