Professor, graduate earn service awards

The Chronicle is a Winston-Salem newspaper focused on the African-American community.   The awards were presented at a ceremony held in downtown Winston-Salem. The Rev. Dr. Sir Walter Mack Jr., pastor of Union Baptist Church, was the keynote speaker for the event that drew more than 500 community members.

In addition, Wake Forest Baseball Coach Tom Walter received a Special Recognition Award for “selflessly donating a kidney to a player.”

“It is wonderful for a faculty member and a graduate of the School of Divinity to be honored at the same time in this way,” said Wake Forest Divinity School Dean Gail O’Day.  “Community engagement is key to theological education at Wake Forest, and these awards confirm the value of our common work.”

Leonard was the founding dean of the Wake Forest School of Divinity, which began in 1999.  He retired from that role in the spring of 2010. He has served on the board of the Appalachian Ministries Educational Resource Center and the editorial board of the Journal of Religion, Disability and Health.  An ordained Baptist minister, Leonard has also served as interim pastor of more than 25 congregations.  Leonard is the author of more than 15 books and 400 articles.

Hines serves as Senior Presbyter of the Mount Sinai Full Gospel Deliverance Center in Winston-Salem. She was recognized for doing significant work in response to neighborhood development, poverty and gang violence.