Congratulations to the 2026 Jones Award Honorees!

The Kenneth O. Jones Distinguished Service Awards recognize members whose service and leadership have strengthened our faith community. Named in honor of the Rev. Dr. Kenneth O. Jones, who faithfully served for thirty-three years as an associate pastor at Fifth Avenue until his death in 1996, the awards are now in their fourteenth year.

We are thrilled to celebrate this year’s honorees and invite you to learn more about the many ways they have enriched our congregation.

Dennis Bushe
Dennis Bushe has been a member of Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church for a decade. Just one year after joining the congregation, he served on the Board of Trustees. He recently completed a term on the Board of Elders, serving as Clerk of Session. Currently, he serves on the Nominating Committee and joyfully sings in Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church’s Community Choir.

Beyond the congregation, Dennis volunteers his time as a math tutor for children from underserved communities on the Lower East Side. Passionate about caring for children in need, Dennis formerly served as president of the board of Children’s Specialized Hospital in New Jersey.

While presenting the award, Associate Pastor the Rev. Werner Ramirez described Dennis’s warm and generous spirit. “Across all these accomplishments, there is a genuine spirit of love. The Holy Spirit radiates through Dennis, and his joy is difficult to hide,” said Ramirez.

Carol Kenney
Carol Kenney joined Fifth Avenue twenty-eight years ago, in 1998. Her service to the congregation has been extensive. On two occasions she was elected to the Board of Trustees, and she has served as its president. She has served multiple terms on the Personnel Committee, is an ordained elder, and recently chaired the Transitional Associate Pastor Search, which brought the Rev. Chris Palmer to Fifth Avenue. 

Alongside her leadership, Carol has been a devoted member of the Monday Night Bible Study, served as an usher, and distributed coats to those in need at the Ecumenical Outreach Partnership’s annual Warmly Wrapped event.

“The posture of thanksgiving that Carol embodies, the sacred curiosity she manifests in engaging with others, the affirming nature of her soul, it makes us all better, and dare I say, more Christ-like,” said Senior Pastor the Rev. Dr. Scott Black Johnston.

Glenda Moreland
Since becoming a member of Fifth Avenue eight years ago, Glenda Moreland has served as a deacon, organized the Deacons’ Prayer Group, attended multiple Women’s Ministry retreats, helped organize the Monday Night Bible Study, and volunteered at both the Margaret Shafer Community Picnic and Feed Your Soul. She has also been a welcoming and generous usher at a variety of special events.

Glenda served as co-chair of the resoundingly successful Kirkland: The Next 100 fundraising campaign, and she continues to serve on the Chapel Renovation Committee, which has held more than one hundred meetings.

“She is always connecting people. It is a southern trait. It is a Christian trait—to quickly recognize where people’s lives overlap with common interests or history or skills, and then to spark a connection between these folks,” said Senior Pastor the Rev. Dr. Scott Black Johnston.

Judy Moseley
Since joining Fifth Avenue in 2010, Judy Moseley has been a consistently welcoming and encouraging presence. Judy’s love for and commitment to Fifth Avenue led her to serve as a docent, a role she has graciously embraced for sixteen years.

She is known for her hospitality toward visitors, going out of her way to share the stories of those she meets with the clergy. Her volunteer service extends to leading tours for the hundreds of tourists who visit the church as part of Open House New York. She also served as a researcher for the 2018 art exhibit The Remarkables: Fifteen Remarkable Women.

As Associate Pastor the Rev. Chris Palmer presented Judy with the award, he said, “That’s her prerogative: She is proactive, and always, always dependable. Judy is never afraid to jump right into the mix of things.”

Auguste Nipabi
After visiting for a couple of months, Auguste Nipabi became a member of Fifth Avenue in 2013. He joined the ushers and greeters team, sharing his gift of hospitality. Ordained to the diaconate in 2016, he served as co-chair of the Deacon Nominating Committee and as chair of the Deacon Flower Committee, during two separate terms of service.

One of the church’s devoted docents, Auguste has also devoted time to teaching visitors about the beautiful architecture and history of our building—sometimes even giving tours in French.

As Executive Pastor the Rev. Dr. Jonah So presented Auguste with the award, he said, “This recipient has been a fount of consistency.” So added, “When his name came up at my weekly check-in with the senior pastor, Scott exclaimed, ‘Yes! He is a great awardee. He has been a face I see every Sunday quietly doing good, faithful, and consistent ministry!’”

Click here to read a list of all Jones Award recipients.