GAC09014
May 14, 2009

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Environmental Ministry Office reopens – Katie Holmes to serve as program assistant

Contact:
Mindy Marchal, (502) 569-5212

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — At the 218th General Assembly (2008) the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) recognized and accepted the responsibility of restoring creation as a central concern of the church to be incorporated into its life and mission at every level. As a result the Environmental Ministry Office has officially been re-opened. It had been asked to cease its work in 2006 after having been in operation since 1991.

Katie Holmes recently joined this office, a part of Social Witness Ministries in Compassion, Peace and Justice as program assistant. This staffing re-assignment is concurrent with the re-opening of the Environmental Office.

While the funding for the re-opening of this office has yet to be finalized Sara Lisherness, director for Compassion, Peace and Justice stated, “I’m pleased that the church sees the importance of caring for God’s creation and I’m very excited that Katie brings knowledge and a faith-based approached to her work.” Quoting scripture, Lisherness continued, “In God’s hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of every human being”, and as Christians we need to honor that.”

Holmes will transition from her work with Presbyterian Disaster Assistance. Prior to that Holmes worked with the Kentucky Waterway Alliance where she obtained a significant experience in environmental work. That experience will be valuable in re-establishing this important ministry the General Assembly has called the church to do.