Rebecca Linder Blachly named as director of government relations

Posted Aug 15, 2016

ens_081516_RebeccaBlachly3[Episcopal Church Office of Public Affairs press release] Presiding Bishop and Primate Michael Curry has appointed Rebecca Linder Blachly as director of government relations, a member of the presiding bishop’s staff.

“Rebecca Blachly provides the capability and knowledge that the Episcopal Church wants and needs when working with our government leaders,” Curry said.  “Please join me in welcoming Rebecca to her new position, coming at a critical juncture for religion-government relations.”

Based in Washington, D.C., the director of government relations is a full-time position responsible for representing the public policy positions adopted by the Episcopal Church’s General Convention and Executive Council, and the ministry of the presiding bishop, to policymakers in Washington including, the White House, Congress, the diplomatic community, Episcopal institutions and networks, visiting Anglican and Episcopal leaders, the ecumenical community, and public interest organizations, so that the church has a direct presence and ability to advocate its positions to those who make or are concerned about governmental policy.

“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 served as the senior policy advisor for Africa for the Office of Religion and Global Affairs in the U.S. Department of State. As such, she advised the secretary of state and State Department officials on religious dynamics, and the role of religious leaders and communities in Africa, and was as an expert and resource for the State Department.

Previously, Blachly was acting chief of the strategic communication division at U.S. Africa Command in Stuttgart, Germany, and special assistant to the principal deputy undersecretary of defense for policy at the Pentagon, where she focused on humanitarian assistance, disaster response and peacekeeping. She has conducted fieldwork and research throughout Africa, including in Sudan and South Sudan, Ethiopia, and Kenya. Blachly worked as a research associate in the Post-Conflict Reconstruction Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Prior, she was the director of international advancement at the University of Illinois.

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.

Blachly holds a Master of Divinity from Harvard University and a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy from Williams College, Williamston, Massachusetts. While at Harvard, she conducted her field education at Trinity Church Wall Street in New York, New York.

Blachly’s appointment takes effect Sept. 6.

A review committee comprised of an Episcopal Church Executive Council member, senior members of the presiding bishop’s staff, an Evangelical Lutheran Church in American partner in government relations work and other church leadership officials reviewed the résumés and interviewed candidates for this position.


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Comments (10)

  1. elizabeth bishop says:

    What a gift to all of us that this appointment has been made. Thank you Bp Curry!

  2. Martha Richards says:

    Congratulations and best wishes and prayers on your new endeavor. We as Episcopalians need to be in leading roles and advisors regarding government. God’s Peace be with you.

  3. Cindi Bartol says:

    Very exciting! Her background information in the accompanying news release, matched with the focus and good work that the EPPN does, is a wonderful combination! Thank you to those who served on the search/research committee to bring Rebecca Linder Blachly into this position.

  4. Perhaps now this office can regain the vision and courage of leaders like Tom Harte and Maureen Shea!

  5. Lallie Lloyd says:

    Welcome, welcome, welcome!

  6. HUGH HANSEN, PHD says:

    It seems that presiding Bishop Curry has a strong vision for the Episcopal Church’s role in the Anglican Communion. The appointment of Rebecca Lerner Blachly to this directorship in his office will strengthen our ties here and abroad for the global tasks of the future.

  7. Suzanne Peterson says:

    Congratulation! What a wonderful resource in our Church and beyond and hopefully someone who will challenge us to do our part as well

    1. Welcome, Rebecca! We look forward to working with you. Episcopal Network for Economic Justice,Episcopal Networks Collaborative.

  8. Vicky Partin says:

    Welcome, Rebecca. We at the Episcopal Network for Economic Justice (ENEJ) look forward to collaborating with you on the social justice issues and General Convention resolutions

  9. Canon Seth Ndayirukiye says:

    Congratulations Rebecca ,may the Lord be with you and use you for His Kingdom,Amen ,May you become the wisdom needed ,for His name to be glorified ,between The Episcopal Church and the US Government ,our Prayers are with you .
    Canon Seth

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