Christianweek editor Doug Koop received a strong endorsement from his journalism peers, who presented him with the Leslie K. Tarr award at the annual Faith Today-sponsored “God Uses Ink” writer’s conference in Guelph, Ontario, last month.

The award goes to “an individual who has demonstrated in the course of their career an outstanding contribution to Christian writing and publishing in Canada.” Specifically the award recognizes a person who has “demonstrated excellence in their own writing, contributed to the development of Christian writing and writers in Canada and helped position the church in Canadian society, leading to better understanding of Christianity.”

Koop has been with Christianweek since its inception in 1987, working as assistant editor, associate editor, managing editor, then editor since 1996.

“Doug has been instrumental in helping a number of Christian writers break into print,” says God Uses Ink conference organizer Bill Fledderus. “He’s well respected by his peers and is a unique position with a publication like Christianweek. His own writing as a editorialist is strong and something that many people look to and find inspiring.”

Harold Jantz, who worked with Koop at CW for 11 years, says he was always impressed with Koop’s ability to remember details. “The man’s got a mind like a steel trap. That has helped him a tremendous amount in his acquaintance with the church in Canada.”

Jantz says Koop has a knack for writing well-researched stories that fairly represent positions without alienating those involved. “He has been able to cultivate relationships with writers across the country “in a way that few people do,” says Jantz.

Recipients of the Tarr award have been no strangers to Christianweek. Founder and editor Harold Jantz received the honour in 1993. Contributors John Redekop and Maxine Hancock have also received the award.

Leslie K. Tarr, who died in 1995, was a pastor and journalist who taught and wrote for a wide variety of secular and Christian publications

.– Kevin Heinrichs

CW Editor Doug Koop with the Leslie K. Tarr award

DAVID VARGAS

Doug has been instrumental in helping a number of Christian writers break into print