A big shout-out to over very own Adelle M. Banks for taking home third place in the Religion Reporter of the Year awards contest sponsored by the Religion Newswriters Association. Adelle picked up her prize this past weekend at the RNA annual shindig in Durham, N.C.

A few blurbs from her pieces (that’s her at left, picking up her award):

Cash-strapped National Cathedral mulls selling treasures: (RNS) Facing a reduced budget and a third round of layoffs, officials at Washington National Cathedral are considering disposing of priceless treasures-including a trove of rare books-that are no longer considered part of its central mission.

Baptists’ large military presence colors gay debate: (RNS) In many religious circles, the repeal of the military’s ban on openly gay members is considered practically a done deal. But Southern Baptists, who have many more active-duty military chaplains than any other denomination, are not giving up without a fight.

Churches torn on whether to allow molesters in pews: (RNS) “All are welcome” is a common phrase on many a church sign and website. But what happens when a convicted sex offender takes those words literally?

Joining Adelle in winning the Religion Reporter of the Year Award were Laurie Goodstein of The New York Times (2nd place) and Michelle Boorstein of The Washington Post (1st place).

Kudos also go to members of the extended RNS family: Jeff MacDonald, who won third place in the new RNA non-fiction book award contest; Kay Campbell of the Huntsville Times, who won first place in the commentary category; our pals Kristen Moulton, Peggy Fletcher Stack and Dave Noyce of The Salt Lake Tribune who took home Cornell Awards for mid-sized newspapers; Tim Townsend of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (metro newspapers); and our colleagues at Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly, who swept the TV category.

A full list of winners can be found here.