On September 24, 2015, the President of the United States announced his intent to appoint Rev. Dr. Jo Anne Lyon, General Superintendent of The Wesleyan Church, to the President’s Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships.
This appointment will be an opportunity for Dr. Lyon to speak into polices and programs that might reduce poverty in the United States, and offers a platform to contribute a unique Wesleyan vision for transforming communities in a holistic way in partnership with faith communities such The Wesleyan Church.
As Founder and CEO of World Hope International, Dr. Lyon previously interfaced extensively with a prior faith-based council and offices in the White House under the George W. Bush administration, doing a great amount of work in the area of AIDS relief and economic development. Dr. Lyon has accepted this opportunity as a part of her continuing effort to apply Christian principles and Wesleyan wisdom to government policy by offering restorative grace and love in our world.
This appointment would come alongside several people Dr. Lyon has worked with before, including David Jeffrey, National Commander at The Salvation Army USA National Headquarters, and Gabriel Salguero, Senior Pastor of the Lamb’s Church (of the Church of the Nazarene) in New York City and president of the National Latino Evangelical Coalition (NaLEC). The Salvation Army and the Church of the Nazarene are both a part of the Global Wesleyan Alliance. Wesleyans partner with these sister denominations in a variety of local, national, and international endeavors, as well as forming a strategic partnership with Salguero’s NaLEC in our work with The Immigration Alliance.
Dr. Lyon has accepted this opportunity as a part of her continuing effort to apply Christian principles and wisdom to government policy by offering restorative grace and love in our world.
“I’m honored to be selected to join this important committee and contribute a unique Wesleyan vision to the Council’s work with faith communities across the country,” said Dr. Lyon. “There is much work that still needs to be done in helping to end worldwide injustices and I look forward to developing effective faith-based solutions that will aid in the fight against poverty and other inequalities.”
The President’s Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships brings together religious and secular leaders as well as scholars and experts in fields related to the work of faith-based and neighborhood organizations. The charge for this Council focuses on steps the government should take to reduce poverty and inequality and create opportunity for all, including changes in policies, programs, and practices that affect the delivery of services by faith-based and community organizations and the needs of low-income and other underserved persons.
Brief bio of Rev. Dr. Jo Anne Lyon
Jo Anne Lyon is General Superintendent of The Wesleyan Church, a position she has held since 2008. In 1996, Dr. Lyon founded World Hope International and served as its CEO until 2008. She served as Adjunct Professor of Church and Society at both Indiana Wesleyan University and Asbury Theological Seminary from 1985 to 1997. She serves on the Board of Directors as representative of The Wesleyan Church of the National Association of Evangelicals Executive Committee, Christian Community Development Association, National Religious Partnership for the Environment, Asbury Theological Seminary Board, Council on Faith of the World Economic Forum, and as an ex-officio member for all Wesleyan Institutions of Higher Education. Dr. Lyon received a B.S. from the University of Cincinnati and an M.A. from the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
