Philosophy of the Turquoise Chalice Award

The New Mexico Conference of Churches was created in 1965 to bring reconciliation and understanding among churches and to provide justice and quality of life for all New Mexicans.

Throughout its existence, the Conference has worked constantly—through theological and ethical dialogue and through active, practical programs—to address the problems faced by all New Mexicans.
The Conference’s goal is to pursue its work with such effectiveness that real change occurs—that organizations change, lives change, and that the Conference changes in order to remain effective.

Along the way, the Conference has been honored to have the support and participation of many New Mexicans who have devoted time, talent, energy, and great expertise to the mission of the Conference.
Such extraordinary effort should not go unrecognized.

Accordingly, the Conference created the Turquoise Chalice award, to be presented to those persons who best represent the mission, work, progress, and support of the New Mexico Conference of Churches.

This award is presented at a benefit dinner held annually on the first Friday of October. The dinner is held to honor the recipient, to promote greater public understanding of the work of the Conference, and to increase the organization’s financial support.

Nominations for the award are accepted by the Conference from any source. Nominees need not be residents of New Mexico. Nominations should be submitted in writing to the Executive Director, New Mexico Conference of Churches. Deadline for nominations is Easter Sunday, annually. The Conference’s board of directors makes the final selection for the award.