Leslie Woods

Leslie Woods has served as Representative for Domestic Poverty and Environmental Issues for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Office of Public Witness since January 2007.  In this capacity, she advocates on behalf of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) on matters related to poverty, hunger, health, human needs, federal budget, climate change, energy and other environmental issues. She also coordinates the Internship and Fellowship for Public Witness Programs, the OPW’s service learning opportunities for young adults.

Leslie is committed to ecumenical and interfaith cooperation, and enjoys strong partnerships with colleagues in the faith-based advocacy community.  She serves as co-chair of the Inter-religious Working Group on Domestic Human Needs, through which many denominations and faith-based organizations advocate on federal poverty-related issues.  She also represents the PC(USA) at the Faithful Budget Campaign, the NCC Eco-Justice Working Group, and other interfaith tables.

Before joining the PC(USA) staff, she served the United Church of Christ Public Life and Social Policy Office in Washington, DC, doing poverty, federal budget and labor justice advocacy.  Leslie holds a Master of Arts in Religion with a concentration in Hebrew Bible, magna cum laude, from Yale Divinity School and a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies and French, magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, from Randolph-Macon College. Leslie is the proud mother of two little boys – Daniel and Joshua.