Three high profile Sydney Anglicans have been recognised at the 2009 Christian Literature Awards, which celebrate outstanding Christian literature.
Paul Barnett, former Bishop of North Sydney, won the 2009 Australian Christian Theological Writers Award.
"It came out of the blue," said a surprised Dr Barnett, who is currently lecturing at Moore Theological College.
His book, Finding the Historical Christ, is the last in a three-part series titled After Jesus.
Dr Barnett describes the series as "a retrospective from the New Testament, looking back on Jesus."
Finding the Historical Christ is written as a response to people who shun the evidence for Jesus.
"It's reacting against those who say either you can't find Jesus, or he wasn't the Messiah," Mr Barnett explains. "I sought to write from a historical point of view."
Christian Book of the Year Award
In the main section for the 2009 Australian Christian Book of the Year Award, Zachary Veron’s Leadership on the Front Foot, and Donald Howard, Preach or Perish: Reaching the hearts and minds of the world today. were jointly awarded second place.
Mr Veron, CEO of Anglican Youthworks, considers it a great honour to receive this award.
"I hope this resource is read widely by all those who exercise leadership in churches, to equip God's people to be more missionally effective in their local areas," he said.
Preach or Perish: Reaching the hearts and minds of the world today was written with two purposes in mind, says Donald Howard.
"The book has a two fold aim; to encourage preachers in their calling and to make hearers value the dynamic relationship which should exist between pulpit and pew."
Mr Howard says the was honoured just to be included on the shortlist.
"We were very thrilled to do as well as we did," Mr Howard says. "I am very thankful to my wife and daughters, who helped with the publishing."
The winner
The major prize, for Australian Christian Book of the Year, was awarded to Naomi Reed, author of No Ordinary View. She tells the story of an Australian missionary mother and wife in Nepal during the recent Maoist revolution.
The judges described it as "a gripping story, compellingly told."
Ms Reed is also author of My Seventh Monsoon, which was runner-up last year.
