September 14, 2026, Washington, D.C. – The Religious Freedom Institute (RFI) applauds the nomination of Jane Lynch for U.S. Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom (IRF). This critical position has been vacant since January 2025. 

Daughter of Franklin Graham and affiliated with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, Lynch has held multiple positions with the renowned global Christian relief organization, Samaritan’s Purse, since 2010, including Senior Advisor and Ministry Spokesperson. During the first Trump administration, Lynch also served as a member of the Executive Evangelical Advisory Board of the President’s Faith Advisory Council. 

Lynch’s nomination comes at a pivotal moment in which the global crisis of religious freedom is intensifying and the need for U.S. leadership is enormous. 

RFI President David Trimble said of her nomination: 

Our world is afflicted by an unprecedented scourge of religious persecution today. We at RFI understand the vital role the International Religious Freedom Ambassador can and should play in U.S. foreign policy, and we stand ready to support Jane Lynch as she prepares, with the Senate’s approval, to assume the responsibilities of America’s chief diplomat for religious freedom. The Senate should enter into the forthcoming confirmation process for Ms. Lynch’s nomination with due diligence and expediency.

The 1998 International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA) mandates that “The [IRF] Ambassador at Large shall be a principal adviser to the President and the Secretary of State regarding matters affecting religious freedom abroad…” The 2016 amendments to IRFA, which were cosponsored at the time by Sen. Marco Rubio and together were named the Frank R. Wolf International Religious Freedom Act, mandated the IRF Ambassador “to report directly to the Secretary of State,” with the authority “to coordinate international religious freedom policies” throughout the U.S. government.  

On the basis of statute and a range of moral and strategic imperatives, the new IRF Ambassador is  charged with coordinating and directing U.S. efforts to advance this fundamental human right in countries plagued by religious repression, discrimination, and violence such as China, Nigeria, Syria, Nicaragua, and numerous others. Bold and robust U.S. IRF policy upholds America’s moral authority and strengthens America’s national security. With the nomination of Ms. Lynch the U.S. will continue to lead globally on the critical issue of international religious religious.

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The Religious Freedom Institute (RFI) works to secure religious freedom for everyone, everywhere. RFI is a non-profit, non-partisan organization based in Washington, D.C.

Media Contact: Nathan Berkeley
media@religiousfreedominstitute.org
202-838-7734
www.RFI.org
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