RALEIGH, NC – On January 2, 2023, the North Carolina Council of Churches announced the next Program Director for their Partners in Health and Wholeness (PHW) initiative. Nicole Johnson, former Associate Program Director for PHW working specifically on denominational support within the program, was promoted to Program Director effective January 1, 2023.
PHW is an established initiative at the North Carolina Council of Churches that works to bridge the issues of faith, health, and justice; offering resources for faith communities to enrich their focus on healthy living through webinars, training sessions, and grant opportunities. Over the past decade, through this initiative, the Council has inspired and mobilized over 600 faith communities in North Carolina to become influential and trusted health hubs for their own members and the communities around them.
Johnson was born in Belize City, Belize, and has called North Carolina home since 2001. She graduated from Salem College, where she majored in Religion. Johnson also has dual degrees, a Master of Divinity from Wake Forest University School of Divinity and a Master of Arts Sustainability from Wake Forest University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.
Johnson believes faith communities offer fertile ground to help meet today’s environmental, social, and ethical challenges. This conviction motivates her to seek ways of merging faith, health, sustainability, and justice. She is thrilled to have the opportunity to work with congregations and individuals to create and support healthier communities. The Council’s Executive Director, the Rev. Dr. Jennifer Copeland, said, “We are fortunate to have Nicole in this new role for the Council. She has been part of PHW since its inception and provided vital leadership to help grow this program into the successful initiative it is.”
Johnson added, “Partners in Health and Wholeness is a team effort and I look forward to being a part of that team as the director. It is an honor to work with people of diverse faith traditions across the state who believe in the health of whole people and whole communities”.
The North Carolina Council of Churches is glad to have Johnson assume this new responsibility as she continues to inspire and mobilize faith communities across North Carolina around health and wholeness.
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Founded in 1935, the North Carolina Council of Churches enables denominations, congregations, and people of faith to impact our state on issues such as racial equity, farmworker rights, environment, LGBTQ+ rights, economic justice and development, human well-being, equality, compassion, and peace, following the example and mission of Jesus Christ. The Council comprises 26 distinct judicatories from 18 denominations. Across the state, our members have over 6,200 congregations, with about 1.5 million congregants. For more information about the Council’s 85-year history, visit www.ncchurches.org. To stay up to date on progressive, faith-based news, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
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