Written by Don Byrd
Dr. Suzan Johnson Cook, a Baptist minister who became the U.S. State Department’s third Ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom, is resigning her post, according to several news sources. World Magazine has more:
During her tenure, Cook claimed some victories by using her position to bring attention to religious freedom violations, like the release of the Iranian pastor Youcef Nardarkhani, who had been sentenced to death in an Iranian prison. She was also vocal against blasphemy resolutions (also know as “defamation of religion” resolutions) that Islamic countries tried to bring forward at the United Nations.
Writing in Foreign Policy, Will Inboden offers advice for selecting the next ambassador to fill the position. He believes the person should be a diplomat, not a cleric, should be elevated in stature at the State Department, and should focus on policy, not religious outreach.
The Office of International Religious Freedom and especially the ambassador are charged with the diplomatic task of promoting religious freedom. It is not the primary function of this office to do liaison or outreach to religious communities. The State Department now has a separate Office of Faith-Based Community Initiatives for the outreach function, headed by the capable Shaun Casey. The next IRF ambassador at large should focus on foreign-policy making and, while cooperating with the Office of Faith-Based Community Initiatives, leave the religious liaison work to the latter.
