WASHINGTON, Nov. 7, 2014—

With construction set to begin this fall on the eight-story, 430,000-square-foot Museum of the Bible, the museum is broadening its team of scholars and experts with new roles and hires. Pedagogical scholar Jerry Pattengale, Ph. D., transitions into the role of executive director of education, allowing him to focus full time on developing Museum of the Bible’s curriculum and pioneering education initiatives. Biblical manuscript authority Michael Holmes, Ph. D., will take on the role of executive director of the Green Scholars Initiative, overseeing Museum of the Bible’s research projects around the world.

Pattengale’s background as an innovator in academia is well-suited for this new position. Recognized for his role as a student advocate and efforts to link education with historical research, Pattengale will continue to serve as senior editor of an innovative Bible curriculum for American and international school markets and will initiate future Museum of the Bible forays into the education space. He will also maintain his post as the first University Professor at Indiana-Wesleyan University.

Assuming the role of executive director of the Green Scholars Initiative, Holmes will lead a team of researchers and student-scholars at more than 60 universities around the world advancing groundbreaking discoveries on artifacts from the Green Collection. Holmes holds a doctorate from Princeton Theological Seminary, where he also taught New Testament, and continues in his role as University Professor of Biblical Studies and Early Christianity at Bethel University. He is a frequent speaker and international lecturer who has authored 11 books on biblical and early Christian writings.

“As excitement builds around the 2017 opening of Museum of the Bible in Washington, our staff’s roles and responsibilities are growing to reach new heights of quality and scope. Drs. Pattengale and Holmes bring world-class expertise in the fields of biblical research and education that will serve our global efforts well for years to come,” said Cary Summers, chief operating officer of Museum of the Bible.

About Museum of the Bible:
Museum of the Bible invites all people to engage with the Bible through museum exhibits and scholarly pursuits. The 430,000-square-foot museum, dedicated to the impact, history and narrative of the Bible, will open in 2017 three blocks from the U.S. Capitol in Washington. As of 2014, its traveling exhibits have visited five U.S. cities and three other countries. The museum supports academic research through its Green Scholars Initiative and through development of a high school Bible curriculum for domestic and international use. For more information, visit MuseumoftheBible.org.