Office of Public Witness
Who We Are
The Presbyterian Office of Public Witness (OPW) is the public policy information and advocacy office of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Its task is to advocate, and help the church to advocate, the social witness perspectives and policies of the General Assembly. The church has a long history of applying these biblically and theologically based insights to issues that affect the public — maintaining a public policy ministry in the nation’s capital since 1946.
The Office of Public Witness staff members visit national policymakers and their staffs, write letters, make phone calls and occasionally testify before Congress or facilitate the testimony of church leaders. This involvement helps to clarify the moral and ethical issues at stake in public policy. The goal is to make clear to people in government what the General Assembly is concerned about, why, and what can be done to respond to those concerns.
Ministry in Washington offers a chance to translate the church’s deep convictions about justice, peace, and freedom from words into reality. The political process is where decisions are made that help or harm people -- decisions that help to make the kind of world God intends.
Act Now!
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Fellowship and Internship Opportunities with the Advocacy Offices:
Office of Public Witness & Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations
Ecumenical & Interfaith Partnerships
Faith in Action: Video Resources
How Can We Help?
Jimmie R. Hawkins
Director
Jimmie.Hawkins@pcusa.org
Christina Cosby
Representative for Domestic Issues & Environmental Justice
Christina.Cosby@pcusa.org
Catherine Gordon
Representative for International Issues
Catherine.Gordon@pcusa.org
Ivy Lopedito
Mission Associate
Ivy.Lopedito@pcusa.org
