On November 17th, the Interfaith Alliance of the Bluegrass presented its
2005 Faith and Freedom Award to the Reverend Nancy Jo Kemper "for
courageously promoting traditional American values, defending religious
liberty, and reinvigorating informed civic participation."

In making the award, the Rev. Dr. William Kincaid, president of TIA of the
Bluegrass, and pastor of Woodland Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in
Lexington made the following remarks:

"Our 2005 Faith and Freedom Award is presented this year to the Rev. Dr.
Nancy Jo Kemper. In making this selection, The Interfaith Alliance of the
Bluegrass mirrors the award given by our national organization. We
considered again our mission--that religion should have a positive, healing
role in public life--and named someone who models that in her life and work.

"In addition to servant, advocate and friend, tonight we honor one of
our community's and commonwealth's great truth-tellers. Truth-telling is
about more than simpy being honest with words. It involves speaking up when
silence will not and cannot be tolerated.

"Executive Director of the Kentucky Council of Churches since 1991,
Nancy Jo's ministry energizes the ecumenical Christian community in Kentucky
in a common witness to justice for the marginalized and to the integrity and
fairness of our shared life, regardless of our particular faith tradition.

"In that work, Nancy Jo frequently finds herself, yea, even puts
herself, in the unpopular role of truth-teller. Her faithful speech exposes
the narrow-mindedness and short-sightedness of ideas generated by the few
for the benefit of the even fewer, while at the same time offering a
hopeful, more inclusive vision of a better way. She has been a relentless
voice in challenging misguided proposals and hollow promises that come
packaged in slick and shiny legislation.

"We thank Nancy Jo for standing for people of faith and the hopes and
concerns we have. We honor Nancy Jo for her courageous participation in
public life, her work for peace, her willingness to dialogue anywhere,
anytime, with anyone, and for reminding us that love must be the motivating
impulse in all that we do and say.

"A graduate of Transylvania University and The Divinity School at Yale
University, Nancy Jo was first formed in faith within her family and through
the congregation of Woodland Christian Church.

"It was my joy for several years to serve as Nancy Jo's mother's pastor.
As with all that great family, Nancy Kemper the mother also spoke directly
about things. Even with deep personal ties, she could assess people and
situations with great accuracy and insight.

"She would have been immensely proud tonight. I believe she would have
said of this honoree, 'I can think of no one who deserves it any more.'
And we believe she would have been telling the truth."