Adapted from the Office of Public Affairs
Presiding Bishop Michael Curry has appointed Rebecca Linder Blachly as director of government relations, effective Sept. 6.
The director of government relations is responsible for representing the public policy positions adopted by General Convention and Executive Council, and the ministry of the Presiding Bishop, to policymakers in Washington.
“I am honored and thrilled to take on this critical role for the Episcopal Church, and I look forward to working for the presiding bishop and with his extraordinary team,” Blachly said. “My experience in the policy community, both in and out of government, has shown me the crucial role of faith communities in advancing priority issues. I look forward to advancing the presence of the Episcopal Church in Washington.”
Most recently Blachly was the U.S. Department of State’s senior policy adviser for Africa.
A published author, she was awarded the Medal for Exceptional Public Service in the Office of the Secretary of Defense and a Harvard Humanitarian Initiative Travel Grant for research in South Sudan on the peacekeeping mission in 2011.