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At a time when our nation is becoming more aware of the value and need for domestic clean energy sources, President Obama chose an individual with strong Seminary ties to take lead in this task.
Wilma Lewis, Chair of the Seminary Trustees, was recently confirmed by the US Senate as Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management for the Department of the Interior. Lewis’s responsibilities include overseeing the production and management of energy and mineral resources from federal lands, as well as managing the 256 million acres of National System of Public Lands and 1.7 billion acres of Federal Outer Continental Shelf in the interest of the American people. This will be her second appointment to the Department of the Interior – from 1995 to 1998 she served as Inspector General, conducting investigations and audits to promote efficiency and uncover reports of waste, abuse and fraud.
While Lewis is an experienced litigator, having also served as US Attorney for the District of Columbia until 2001, her responsibilities to her faith communities prove just as important to her. In 2005 she joined Moravian Theological Seminary’s Board of Trustees, taking over as Chair in 2007. She is also a long-time member of Faith Moravian Church in DC, where she serves as both President of the Board of Trustees and as the founder of their handbell choir, a group hosted by the Seminary this past spring.
Because of the conflict of serving on other boards while working for the President's Cabinet, Wilma Lewis has requested to step down as Chair and become a “Special Advisor" to the Seminary Board of Trustees. Her request was granted at the recent October meeting of the Trustees and Rev. Dave Bennett, president of the Eastern District of the Moravian Church, was elected to complete her term as Board Chair.
The DOI’s official news release of Lewis’ confirmation can be found here.
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