Former Union professor honored with James M. Washington Award

The Healing of the Nations Foundation and its president, the Reverend James A. Forbes, Jr., are recently announced that the Reverend Frederick E. Dennard was the 2010 recipient of The James M. Washington Award, presented to him on Sunday, May 16th at The Riverside Church, 490 Riverside Drive, New York City.

The award was created in memory of The Reverend Dr. James M. Washington, a former professor at Union Theological Seminary, member of The Riverside Church and the Church Council, and honors the ministry of lay members of the Church who have best demonstrated principles of Christian discipleship in his/her services to the Church. The recipient of the award has consistently demonstrated Christian faithful adherence to The Riverside Church leadership covenant, exhibiting Christian maturity and charity in all endeavors.

The Reverend Dennard has exemplified these characteristics everyday of his sixty plus years participation and membership at The Riverside Church, according to Reverend Forbes. He has served on many commissions and committees and is currently a member of the Church Council where he has served as vice chairman. In his own words, he has served the Riverside Church and Congregation with "unconditional love."

The Reverend Dennard attended Juilliard School of music and earned his bachelor of arts degree from Brooklyn College, where he majored in psychology. As a student at Union Theological Seminary, he explored how the secular world can be a symbol of spiritual reality and graduated with a Masters of Divinity degree in 1962.

Forbes said the Reverend Dennard is well known for his service to the community. He and his late wife, Doris, a psychiatric social worker, founded the Harlem Interfaith Counseling Service (HICS).

Working together for over 30 years, their intergenerational family and mental health agency became a vital community service dedicated to the healing and wellness to children and adults in the Harlem community. Dr. Dennard currently serves as the vice president of The Healing of the Nations Foundation.