White House Completes Faith-Based Council Appointments

The nine council members named Monday were:

Anju Bhargava, Founder, Asian Indian Women of America
Flushing, N.Y.

Bishop Charles Blake, Presiding Bishop, Church of God in Christ
Los Angeles

Rev. Peg Chemberlin, President-Elect, National Council of Churches USA
Minneapolis, Minn.

Nathan Diament, Director of Public Policy, Orthodox Jewish Union
Washington, D.C.

Harry Knox, Director, Religion and Faith Program, Human Rights Campaign
Washington, D.C.

Dalia Mogahed, Executive Director, Gallup Center for Muslim Studies
Washington, D.C.

Anthony Picarello, General Counsel , United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
Washington, D.C.

Nancy Ratzan, Board Chair, National Council of Jewish Women
Miami, Fla.

Dr. Sharon Watkins, General Minister and President, Disciples of Christ (Christian Church)
Indianapolis, Ind.

Previously announced council appointments were:

Diane Baillargeon, President and CEO, Seedco
New York

Noel Castellanos, CEO, Christian Community Development Association
Chicago

Dr. Arturo Chavez, President and CEO, Mexican American Catholic College
San Antonio, Texas

Fred Davie, Senior Adviser, Public/Private Ventures
New York

Pastor Joel C. Hunter, Senior Pastor, Northland, a Church Distributed
Longwood, Fla.

Bishop Vashti M. McKenzie, Presiding Bishop, 13th Episcopal District, African Methodist Episcopal Church
Knoxville, Tenn.

Rev. Otis Moss, Jr., Pastor emeritus, Olivet Institutional Baptist Church
Cleveland, Ohio

Dr. Frank S. Page, President emeritus, Southern Baptist Convention
Taylors, S.C.

Eboo S. Patel, Founder & Executive Director, Interfaith Youth Core
Chicago

Melissa Rogers, Director, Wake Forest School of Divinity Center for Religion and Public Affairs
Winston-Salem, N.C.

Rabbi David N. Saperstein, Director & Counsel, Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism
Washington, D.C.

Dr. William J. Shaw, President, National Baptist Convention, USA
Philadelphia

Father Larry J. Snyder, President, Catholic Charities USA
Alexandria, Va.

Richard Stearns, President, World Vision
Bellevue, Wash.

Judith N. Vredenburgh, President and Chief Executive Officer, Big Brothers / Big Sisters of America
Philadelphia,

Rev. Jim Wallis, President & Executive Director, Sojourners
Washington, D.C.

The White House Office for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships is a resource for nonprofits and community organizations, both secular and faith based, looking for ways to make a bigger impact in their communities, learn their obligations under the law, cut through red tape, and make the most of what the federal government has to offer. Each advisory council member will serve a one-year term.