Joshua DuBois, the head of the White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships, will depart his post at the end of this week, President Obama announced Thursday at the National Prayer Breakfast.
"Joshua has been at my side -- in work and in prayer -- for years now. He is a young reverend, but wise in years," Obama said, adding he had "done an outstanding job as the head of our Faith-based office."
DuBois is leaving the White House to write a book of devotionals and teach at New York University, according to the Washington Post. He also plans to launch a new faith organization with Michael Wear, who led faith outreach for the president's reelection campaign.
In his comments Thursday, Obama credited DuBois for his role in keeping him connected to his faith.
"Every morning he sends me via email a daily meditation — a snippet of Scripture for me to reflect on. And it has meant the world to me," Obama said.
DuBois' office was established in 2001 by President George W. Bush, but ran into immediate controversy from civil-liberties groups that argued it violated the separation of church and state. DuBois released a report last year detailing safeguards the White House had put into place to prevent potential First Amendment violations, but watchdog groups complained the document did not do enough to resolve outstanding issues.
