DISTINGUISHED CHRISTIAN STATESMAN AWARD
AWARD HISTORY
Believing that the future of our nation depends in large part on the character and integrity of our leaders, Dr. Kennedy and the board of directors of the Center for Christian Statesmanship established an annual award to promote faith, virtue, and excellence in public service.
The Distinguished Christian Statesman Award is an honor that represents the ideals of service to God and country. A Christian Statesman is a man or woman whose life is governed by a bedrock set of principles over which they will not compromise for personal or political gain. A Christian Statesman is a person whose commitment to Christ and love of country compels him or her to stand for truth and righteousness in government. A Christian Statesman recognizes that public service is a high calling – a ministry ordained by God (Romans 13:4) – and that they will one day render an account to God for that service. In short, a Christian Statesman is a person who fears God more than men.
The Distinguished Christian Statesman award was created to recognize men and women who endeavor to live out their Christian faith in public life. True Christian statesmanship is revealed in that person whose commitment to Christ and love for country compels him or her to stand for truth and righteousness in government, upholding those principles that exalt rather than debase the nation. Such persons live their lives guided by a Christian world and life view, which acknowledges the sovereignty of God and compels them to make their life count for the kingdom of Christ.
Each year the Board of Directors prayerfully selects a recipient whose public service and private life upholds these ideals. Since the inception of the award in 1996, an annual reception or dinner is held to recognize the recipient.
Throughout America’s history; God has raised up men and women to serve as Christian Statesmen. Their moral strength and reliance on God’s providential care guided our great nation during its founding era. Their dedicated service has sustained us during crises of civil war, world war, depression, poverty, and racial division. As America moves forward, it is our prayer that God will raise up a new generation of Christian Statesmen and that through them He will continue to secure the blessings of liberty for generations to come.
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PAST AWARD RECIPIENTS
(Titles reflect the role in the awarded year)
2023 – Senator Tim Scott
US Senator from South Carolina
2022 – Lt. Governor Winsome Earle-Sears
42nd Lieutenant Governor of Virginia
2021 – Representative Vicki Hartzler
US Representative from the 4th Congressional District of Missouri
2020 – Representative Bob McEwen
US Representative from the 6th Congressional District of Ohio
2019 – Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos
11th US Secretary of Education
2018 – Senator Jim Inhofe
US Senator from Oklahoma
2017 – Representative Mark Meadows
US Representative from the 11th Congressional District of North Carolina
2016 – Governor Matt Bevin
62nd Governor of Kentucky
2015 – Senator James Lankford
US Senator from Oklahoma
2014 – Senator John Boozman
US Senator from Arkansas
2013 – Governor Mike Huckabee
44th Governor of Arkansas
2012 – Representative Joe Pitts
US Representative from the 16th Congressional District of Pennsylvania
2011 – Representative Trent Franks
US Representative from the 2nd Congressional District of Arizona
2010 – Representative Robert Aderholt
US Representative from the 4th Congressional District of Alabama
2009 – Representative Randy Forbes
US Representative from the 4th Congressional District of Virginia
2008 – Representative Mike Pence
US Representative from the 6th Congressional District of Indiana
2007 – Representative Todd Akin
US Representative from the 2nd Congressional District of Missouri
2006 – Representative Mike McIntyre
US Representative from the 7th Congressional District of North Carolina
2005 – Representative Marilyn Musgrave
US Representative from the 4th Congressional District of Colorado
2004 – Representative John Hostettler
US Representative from the 8th Congressional District of Indiana
2003 – The Honorable Kay Coles James
Director of the US Office of Personnel Management
2002 – Representative Tom DeLay
US Representative from the 22nd Congressional District of Texas
2001 – Representative J.C. Watts
US Representative from the 4th Congressional District of Oklahoma
2000 – Senator Sam Brownback
US Senator from Kansas
1999 – Majority Leader Dick Armey
US Representative from the 26th Congressional District of Texas
1998 – Senator Dan Coats
US Senator from Indiana
1997 – Justice Roy Moore
Circuit Judge for the 16th Circuit Court of Alabama
1996 – Senator John Ashcroft
US Senator from Missouri