Each year at the Society meeting, the William H. Whitsitt Courage Award is presented to a worthy recipient who has “demonstrated courage within the tradition and heritage of the Baptist faith,” and “in the face of strong opposition, has made a lasting contribution” to Baptist values through such things as “pursing intellectual integrity” and “championing soul freedom.” 

William H. Whitsitt received the first Courage Award posthumously in 1993. Whitsitt is the patron saint of this Society, which seeks to “foster the study of the Baptist heritage and to raise the historical consciousness of Baptists by honoring, preserving and affirming a treasured and threatened heritage.” 

Other Courage Award recipients are:

1994 – Ralph Elliott
1995 – Will Campbell
1996 – Cecil Sherman
1997 – Henlee Barnette
1998 – Ken Chafin
1999 – John Porter
2000 – James Dunn
2001 – E. Glenn Hinson
2001 – Jimmy Carter
2002 – Walker Knight
2003 – Walter Rauschenbusch
2004 – Molly Marshall
2005 – Jimmy Allen
2006 – R. Kirby Godsey