Friday, March 21, 2003 Contact: Sean Oblack (202) 225-4176 Rep. Adam Schiff Names Pastor Jean Burch As A Woman Of The Year For California's 29th Congressional District WASHINGTON, D.C. – To commemorate Women’s History Month, U.S. Representative Adam Schiff announced today that he has named Pastor Jean Burch of Pasadena, California as one of the Women of the Year for California's 29th District.   Pastor Burch will be honored at a "Women of the Year" luncheon hosted by Rep. Schiff on Friday, March 21. "Pastor Burch has been a pivotal leader in the social and religious life of our Pasadena community and I wish to salute her efforts today," Rep. Schiff said.  "The entire community joins me in thanking Pastor Burch for her continued efforts to make the 29th Congressional District a more vibrant and enjoyable place in which to live." Raised in Pasadena, Pastor Burch attended Pasadena City College and Biola University, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Organizational Leadership with an emphasis in Biblical Studies.   She worked in the legal profession for twenty-one years, but in March 2000, she left the legal profession to become the Senior Pastor of Community Baptist Church in Pasadena.  Her religious career began in the early 1970s under the leadership of Dr. Reverend Coy Turrentine, the late Bishop James E. Henry and as Assistant Pastor for her father, Pastor Emeritus John W. Burch at Community Baptist Church.  In addition, she served as an instructor at the Southern California School of Ministry, teaching a course entitled “Women in Ministry.”  Pastor Burch has been extensively involved in many community, civic, and religious organizations.  She has served on the boards of the National Association for Law Placement, the Los Angeles Association of Legal Recruitment Directors and the Pasadena Public Library Association.  Currently she is a board member of the Ecumenical Council of Pasadena Area Churches and Northwest Pasadena Development Corporation.  Along with other faith leaders and the Coalition for Zero Violence, Pastor Burch participates in a united effort to end violence in the Pasadena Unified School District.  Her church, Community Baptist, is the faith-based partner for Community Arms and Kings Villages affordable housing properties.