Louisville, KY –Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary recently received the Business/Family Partnership Award and was listed among 33 employers in the Gold Medal category for providing a family friendly work environment for its employees. The award, presented at an annual luncheon, recognizes companies in Louisville and Jefferson County that create a more productive workplace and stronger families, and that place a high priority on the balance between work and family life. A total of 150 companies received gold, silver or bronze designations this year.

In addition, Louisville Seminary was named one of the top 25 most family friendly employers in Louisville and Jefferson County by Business First magazine.

“This recognition is significant because it demonstrates the Seminary’s continued commitment to families. The Seminary has worked hard to establish a work environment which allows our employees to meet the increasing demands of family and career,” stated Patrick Cecil, the Seminary’s Vice President for Finance.

In order to be eligible for the award employers must meet certain requirements in their employment practices including flexible work arrangements, paid time off, and health benefits, among other options. Louisville Seminary also makes available to its employees pre-tax accounts for child care costs, personal days, CPR training during work hours, access to an exercise facility and short-term disability.

This is not the first time Louisville Seminary has been recognized for its family friendly commitments. When the award was first presented in 1996, Louisville Seminary was one of 80 to receive a silver designation. The institution has received the award each year since then, and in the year 2000 received its first gold designation.

A commitment to families is further demonstrated through the Seminary’s programs that nurture a life of faith and healing within families. This is carried out through:

• The Center for Congregations and Family Ministries, which provides seminars and continuing education in the area of family ministry.
• Family Ministry: Empowering Through Faith, a one-of-a-kind resource that provides research, scholarship and insight into the relationship between faith, families, congregations and communities.
• Louisville Seminary Counseling Ministry, offering professional and affordable pastoral counseling to individuals, couples, families and children.
• The Marriage and Family Therapy Degree Program, one of four accredited, seminary-based programs in the nation that prepares counselors to integrate ministry, theology, spirituality and marriage and family therapy.

The Business/Family Partnership is sponsored by Jefferson County Government, Greater Louisville, Inc., The Louisville Society for Human Resource Management, Community Coordinated Child Care (4-C) and Stage One.