Manlove-Howells Leadership Award

The Manlove-Howells Leadership Award is given each year to an individual who has demonstrated outstanding leadership in Christ’s Church through the field of outdoor ministry. It recognizes those who have provided visionary insight, inspired collaborative efforts among colleagues, and offered valuable guidance to current and future outdoor ministry leaders.  Nominations are reviewed by the Recognitions Committee. A selection will be made, and the Manlove-Howells Leadership Award will be awarded at the annual LOM Conference. Applications must be submitted by October 1. 

Click here to submit form electronically.

Past Recipients:


The seventh Manlove-Howells Leadership Award was presented at the 2023 LOM Conference. Ralph Yernberg, retired outdoor ministry professional who also served as LOM’s first co-president alongside Duane Hanson.

Ralph began his career in outdoor ministries in 1975 at Good Earth Village (MN). Ralph then moved to be executive director of Imago Dei (WI). With the formation of ELCA, they merged with Pine Lake to become Crossways with Ralph as executive director. Ralph went on to serve as executive director at Sky Ranch (CO). He was president of the Association of Lutheran Outdoor Ministry Professionals at the time that LOM was being formed. His is the lone incorporator whose signature appears on the LOM Articles of Incorporation. In 2020, Ralph spearheaded the formation of the LOM COVID Response Team. He was elected to Good Earth Village Board in 2023 and simultaneously elected treasurer.

Jim Schmidt, executive director of Camp Onomia (MN), wrote in his nomination for Ralph, “I believe that there are few people living that has done as much for Lutheran Outdoor Ministries than Ralph. From writing histories of the movement, filling almost every role a person in outdoor ministries could fill, to consulting and advising, Ralph has done it all. I served with Ralph at Imago Dei Ministries/i.e. Crossways Camps for 10 years. Pretty much everything I have needed in my 35 plus years in camping I learned from him there. Who else in our industry plays a hammer dulcimer or does hand readings?”

You can view the presentation at https://youtu.be/dDcgETXGf7M?si=HmGtre2CoUFjYxaL


The sixth Manlove-Howells Leadership Award was presented in 2022. Mark Burkhardt, retired from the ELCA and former director of outdoor ministries was the recipient of this year’s award. Mark began his outdoor ministry career at Camp Mount Luther (PA) during his college and grad school days at Susquehanna University and Penn State, serving as summer director. He was summer camp director at Fortune Lake (MI) before going to Camp Beisler (now Cross Roads, NJ) as the full-time director. He served as the Assistant Director and then Director of Outdoor Ministries for the ELCA. Even before that, as a kid growing up in the LCA, Mark went to camp at the camp that was known as Jolly Acres, then he had experiences at Nawakwa (PA) and MarLu-Ridge (MD). For many years, Mark served as the ELCA-appointed board representative. You can view Mark’s remarks at https://youtu.be/9yc-I62Kt1k


The fifth Manlove-Howells Leadership Award was presented at the recognition brunch at the 2021 LOM Conference.  Dave Jarvis, executive director at Rainbow Trail Lutheran Camp (CO) was the recipient.  Jarvis has served RTLC for 33 years in the role of executive director. Throughout this time, he has built a legacy reflective of everything the Manlove-Howells Leadership Award stands for. He is a man who lives his convictions through his Christ-centered heart, his unmatchable work ethic, and his devotion to uplifting the gifts of campers, staff, and other LOM partners. His mindset around camping ministry all changed when he realized the importance of providing development and ministry to his staff (rather than just the campers). This commitment to training young leaders in the Rocky Mountain Synod has resulted in countless staff alumni who have changed their life paths to go into ministry. You can view Dave’s remarks at https://youtu.be/56MA1X5-LtI?si=Zf3vdn2ycxGe8l-h


The fourth Manlove-Howells Leadership Award was presented at a special virtual ceremony online on November 11, 2020, to  Margie Fiedler, executive director at Flathead (MT). Videos were shown with remarks by both Ralph Yernberg and Bob Kehner, longtime LOM colleagues of Margie’s.  Another video was shown that gave support to this award from Kyle Lefler, who served as Margie’s assistant director at Flathead for six years.  During the awards ceremony, participants on Zoom wore funny hats.  Margie is pictured here with her “moose hat” on Zoom, accepting the award.  She said, “I am so honored to receive this award. (Since it has only been received by retired people, I was hoping this was not a hint to me!)  There are so many well deserving people…people who I have learned and grown from and who I continue to learn from.  Jerry Manlove is my forever mentor, so to be given an award with his name, is very humbling.  Thank you all so very much.”


The third Manlove-Howells Leadership Award was presented at LOM Day at the 2019 Great Gathering.  It was given to Jerry Olstad, former director of outdoor ministries for the Lutheran Church in America.  Videos were shown with remarks by Jerry Manlove, Andrea Scoffield, and Paul Hill.  Olstad was unable to attend because of flight cancellations but was live streamed into the Faith Center at Lutheridge. 

Mark Burkhardt of the ELCA, who was hired as Jerry’s assistant in the late 1980s, talked about three strengths he saw in Jerry.  The first was his dedication to shared leadership.   “It was never about Jerry,” Burkhardt said.  Olstad always wanted to split up staff roles in a way that made sense.  The second strength was his big ideas. “He wasn’t afraid to tackle the big stuff,” Burkhardt said.  One of those big ideas was the International Camp Counselor Program, which is still in existence today. Over 900 international counselors from 50 countries have come to camp during the program.  Finally, Olstad recognized leadership abilities in people. “He would always talk about new leaders he discovered in his trips,” Burkhardt said.  He added that Olstad was intensely loyal to those leaders and stuck by them. 

In accepting the award, Olstad said, “Jerry Manlove and Paul Howells were certainly leaders in the church.  I was glad to join that club and now we see how that work is being lived out in you.”  Due to bad weather, Olstad’s scheduled flights were cancelled, changing his plans to be at the event in person.


In 2018, the second award was given to Dick Sayther, one of the founding partners of Gronlund Sayther Brunkow (GSB), a development and board consulting firm.  A video was shown, with testimonials of those who have worked with Sayther over the years.   Also speaking in person about Sayther was Keith Johnson, former Executive Director of Novus Way (NC).  Johnson referred to Hebrews 11 which lists many saints who have gone before us.  “We stand on their shoulders,” Johnson said.  “Dick—we also stand on your shoulders.” 

In his nomination letter, Paul Hill wrote, “The untold story of Lutheran camping, since the mid-70’s, is the contribution made by Dick Sayther to help camps develop long range plans, boards, raise millions of dollars, and coach executives. Dick has the heart of a faithful churchman. He came out of camping having led Sugar Creek in the early 70’s. And he saw a need for increased skills and professional development throughout Lutheran camping. His mentor, Dr. Bob Gronlund, helped him translate all he had successfully done at Sugar Creek into a thriving consulting business that has touched all of us in Lutheran camping.  Dick’s insights, now taught by all of GSB, have proven over and again how a successful outdoor ministry ought to plan, design, organize, structure the board, operate as executives, and develop full spectrum fundraising.” You can watch Dick’s remarks here: https://youtu.be/L6Y9inGPKsA?si=b5ZOIIap20dKjuN8


In its first year, 2017, the award was give to the two namesakes of the award. Watch the presentation here: https://youtu.be/tzP470hBF4Q?si=y9zoVXlJZMX9cGkt

Jerry Manlove served as the Director of Outdoor Ministries for the American Lutheran Church.   His award was presented at the 2017 LOM Conference.  Margie Fiedler, executive director of Flathead Lutheran Bible Camp, introduced him and told about her relationship with Jerry Manlove.  In accepting his award, Manlove said he is confident in outdoor ministries’ future.  “I am more excited now about the future of camping in this church than I have ever been,” Manlove said.

At that same event, Mark Burkhardt, former director of ELCA Outdoor Ministries and current LOM board member, introduced Paul Howells.  Burkhardt spoke of his relationship with the former Outdoor Ministry Director for the Lutheran Church in America.  Howells couldn’t attend the conference, but accepted via video.  Howells talked about the importance of outdoor ministry and who leads us in this work.   “We need to remember whose we are,” Howells said in his speech.

On January 12, 2018, in Frederick, PA, LOM physically presented Paul with his award.   Don Johnson, LOM executive director, presented the award at a luncheon at Paul’s retirement living community.  Prior to the luncheon, friends and family gathered to greet Paul.  After eating, many shared stories of how Paul affected their lives.

Pastor Conrad B. Youse, former executive director of the Lutheran Camping Corporation of Central Pennsylvania, shared two fond stories of Paul.  He told of the annual volleyball game at the national conference and how Paul would wrench up the emotion at that game by yelling, “Kill, Kill!”  One game got a little heated and Paul used the opportunity to teach about conflict management.  Youse said it was through that experience that he learned about the importance of resolution.  “Conflict is an opportunity to people to sit down and work out their differences,” Youse said.

In presenting the award, Don Johnson showed appreciation for the leadership Paul provided during the decades that he served as Director of Outdoor Ministries for the Lutheran Church in America.  Don recalled that Paul paved the way for bringing outdoor ministry into a prominent place upon the formation of the ELCA.  “One of the legacies that Paul left to our church is that he saw the merger coming and provided opportunities for us to do things together.  The legacy is now we don’t even know who is formerly LCA or ALC,” Johnson said.

Jerry Manlove and Paul Howells were given prints of paintings by Paul Oman, an artist who is known widely throughout the LOM network. Jerry was given a painting of Inspiration Point at Outlaw Ranch (SD); Paul was given a painting of Rainbow Trail (CO).

Paul Howells died ten days later on January 23, 2018, one day before his 89th birthday.  You can watch his video acceptance speech here:  https://youtu.be/sCZ30WLCLFE?si=uBIXoN1Pwl_o5fJ7