Faith and Politics Institute
Encyclopedia
The Faith & Politics Institute is a Washington, D.C.
non-profit organization that serves members of Congress and congressional staff by offering experiential pilgrimages, reflection groups, retreats and public forums." Through its bipartisan and interfaith dialogues and programs, the group "works to bridge racial, religious, and political divisions among elected officials, while promoting reflective and ethical leadership. Since 1991, hundreds of members of Congress, Congressional staff, and their constituents have taken part in efforts "that encourage collaborative and visionary leadership practices and foster healing, civility, and respect."
The organization was headed by the Rev. Doug Tanner for the first 15 years of its existence, with Fr. Cletus Kiley taking over as president in 2006, succeeded in 2011 by the Rev. Mark J. Farr. While many Democratic and Republican Congressional Representatives work with the organization, including those on its Congressional Advisory Board, Representative John Lewis, a former leader of the Civil rights movement
in America, has played a special role in its programs, including its annual Civil Rights Pilgrimage to Alabama.
Plans for the group resulted from an early "reflection group" that included Rep. Glenn Poshard
, Ms. Anne Bartley, Rev. Joe Eldridge, and Rev. Doug Tanner. Convinced of the importance of such opportunities for reflection, Tanner founded the Institute in 1991 "with the hope of providing opportunities for meaningful interactions and experiences among those who lead and serve our nation."
Some of the Institute's earliest efforts were linked to the "Common Ground" program, providing opportunities for staffers and members to help rebuild churches burned by arsonists in the mid-1990s.
In 1997, the organization expanded its programs when then-President Rev. Doug Tanner persuaded Representative Amo Houghton
and Representative John Lewis (D-GA) to serve as the co-chairmen of the group's Board of Directors. Their involvement brought in many additional members and leaders of Congress interested in dialogue across party, religious, racial, and ideological lines, creating a "spiritual community of men and women who seek a better way to do the people's business."
Activities within these three broad areas include reflection groups, retreats, pilgrimages, and public forums. The weekly reflection groups and occasional retreats are important opportunities seek to provide opportunities for men and women who work in the "fast-paced and charged atmosphere of Washington, D.C., to "connect their role with their greater calling as human beings." The public forums include lectures by well-known speakers "whose lives reflect moral courage in the political arena." The pilgrimages allow men and women from both houses of congress, along with staff members and special guests, to take part in trips that provide information, inspiration, and opportunities for reflection on the lessons to be learned from past struggles, such as the civil rights movement. The annual pilgrimage to Montgomery and Selma Alabama that includes a walk over the famous Edmund Pettus Bridge is an event led by Representative John Lewis, an early civil rights leader. Other special activities include:
, partner with the Institute to support a wide variety of its programs, while others focus on specific events, including:
. Farr was selected for the position in January 2011 and officially began work as president on February 28, 2011.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
non-profit organization that serves members of Congress and congressional staff by offering experiential pilgrimages, reflection groups, retreats and public forums." Through its bipartisan and interfaith dialogues and programs, the group "works to bridge racial, religious, and political divisions among elected officials, while promoting reflective and ethical leadership. Since 1991, hundreds of members of Congress, Congressional staff, and their constituents have taken part in efforts "that encourage collaborative and visionary leadership practices and foster healing, civility, and respect."
The organization was headed by the Rev. Doug Tanner for the first 15 years of its existence, with Fr. Cletus Kiley taking over as president in 2006, succeeded in 2011 by the Rev. Mark J. Farr. While many Democratic and Republican Congressional Representatives work with the organization, including those on its Congressional Advisory Board, Representative John Lewis, a former leader of the Civil rights movement
Civil rights movement
The civil rights movement was a worldwide political movement for equality before the law occurring between approximately 1950 and 1980. In many situations it took the form of campaigns of civil resistance aimed at achieving change by nonviolent forms of resistance. In some situations it was...
in America, has played a special role in its programs, including its annual Civil Rights Pilgrimage to Alabama.
History
The Institute was founded in 1991 to "provide bipartisan, bridge-building opportunities for political leaders to experience the spiritual power of conscience, courage, and compassion."Plans for the group resulted from an early "reflection group" that included Rep. Glenn Poshard
Glenn Poshard
Glenn Poshard is a former Illinois State Senator, U.S. Congressman, Gubernatorial Candidate, and is currently President of the Southern Illinois University system.-Early career:...
, Ms. Anne Bartley, Rev. Joe Eldridge, and Rev. Doug Tanner. Convinced of the importance of such opportunities for reflection, Tanner founded the Institute in 1991 "with the hope of providing opportunities for meaningful interactions and experiences among those who lead and serve our nation."
Some of the Institute's earliest efforts were linked to the "Common Ground" program, providing opportunities for staffers and members to help rebuild churches burned by arsonists in the mid-1990s.
In 1997, the organization expanded its programs when then-President Rev. Doug Tanner persuaded Representative Amo Houghton
Amo Houghton
Amory "Amo" Houghton Jr. is a politician from the state of New York, a retired member of the House of Representatives, and member of one of upstate New York's most prominent families in business, the Houghton family.-Early life:...
and Representative John Lewis (D-GA) to serve as the co-chairmen of the group's Board of Directors. Their involvement brought in many additional members and leaders of Congress interested in dialogue across party, religious, racial, and ideological lines, creating a "spiritual community of men and women who seek a better way to do the people's business."
Mission
The Faith and Politics Institute operates as an interfaith and non-partisan organization with the mission to advance "reflective leadership among members of Congress and congressional staff to bridge the divides that arise in a thriving democracy."Values
The organization's website includes the following statement on its values:The Faith & Politics Institute embraces values that are essential for a thriving democracy. Among those it holds most important are: Conscience, Courage, Compassion, Diversity, Integrity, Trust, Spiritual Engagement, Personal Reflection, Interfaith Understanding, Forgiveness, Civility, and Community.
Programs and activities
The Institute's programs encompass three general areas of leadership, including:- Leading from Within: Reflective leadership is effective leadership -- opportunities for members and staffers to strengthen their "inner dimension of leadership";
- Leading Across the Divides: Race, religion and partisanship -- efforts to "foster a spirit of reconciliation across lines of race, religion and political party";
- Leading in service: Engaging the public -- programs that bring together leaders and their constituents.
Activities within these three broad areas include reflection groups, retreats, pilgrimages, and public forums. The weekly reflection groups and occasional retreats are important opportunities seek to provide opportunities for men and women who work in the "fast-paced and charged atmosphere of Washington, D.C., to "connect their role with their greater calling as human beings." The public forums include lectures by well-known speakers "whose lives reflect moral courage in the political arena." The pilgrimages allow men and women from both houses of congress, along with staff members and special guests, to take part in trips that provide information, inspiration, and opportunities for reflection on the lessons to be learned from past struggles, such as the civil rights movement. The annual pilgrimage to Montgomery and Selma Alabama that includes a walk over the famous Edmund Pettus Bridge is an event led by Representative John Lewis, an early civil rights leader. Other special activities include:
- The Lewis-Houghton Leadership Awards: recognizing leaders "who have exhibited qualities of conscience, courage and compassion in their roles as public servants."
- United States-South Africa Faith and Politics Initiative: In May 2003, The Faith & Politics Institute provided program conceptualization, planning, and coordination for the Congressional visit (CODEL) to South Africa, led by Reps. Houghton and Lewis. This visit provided an opportunity to compare lessons learned from America's civil rights movement and South Africa's fight against apartheid, and established links for future dialogue.
- Saint Joseph's Day Breakfast: an annual breakfast program, including a speaker and awards ceremony, on Saint Joseph's Day. Because Saint JosephSaint JosephSaint Joseph is a figure in the Gospels, the husband of the Virgin Mary and the earthly father of Jesus Christ ....
is recognized by many as the patron saint of the worker, the Institute's St. Joseph's Day breakfast was founded "to raise awareness of the spiritual and moral issues that affect economic life in America." - The Congressional Reception: Every other year, this reception acknowledges both those who have supported the Institute's efforts and those who have been inspired by its programs.
Partnerships
Through partnership efforts with other organizations, the Institute extends its reach by co-sponsoring special events that its basic missions. Some groups, like the Fetzer InstituteFetzer Institute
-The Institute:The Fetzer Institute is a mid size operating foundation based in Michigan, United States, founded by John E Fetzer.Since its founding, the Fetzer Institute has been interested in individual and community health and wholeness, from our early days of mind-body health research to its...
, partner with the Institute to support a wide variety of its programs, while others focus on specific events, including:
- Congressional Conversations on Race: co-sponsored with Search for Common GroundSearch for Common GroundSearch for Common Ground is an international non-profit organization operating in nearly 30 countries whose mission is to transform the way the world deals with conflict – away from adversarial approaches toward cooperative solutions. It is headquartered in Washington, D.C., with the majority of...
, and founded on a belief in the need for the nation's leaders to recognize the spiritual nature of our nation's historic racial wounds, and work together toward healing. - Civil Rights Heroes: Buried but not forgotten: in partnership with Sewall-Belmont House, the District of Columbia, GLAAD, and the National Park Service, honored women and men buried in the Congressional Cemetery, who played key roles in advancing justice and equality for all. One of the men honored was Leonard Matlovich a Vietnam warVietnam WarThe Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
veteran Tech Sergeant, who had spoken out against discrimination against gay and lesbian service personnel. - Muslims in America: The Faith & Politics Institute, along with the Newseum's Religious Freedom Education Project and Wesley Theological Seminary, hosted evening of storytelling and honest dialogue what it means to be Muslim-American in our contemporary context.
Leadership
The Reverend Doug Tanner was founder and first president of the organization. In 2006, Fr Cletus Kiley, a priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago, at that time executive director of the Office of Priestly Life and Ministry of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), took over as president, with Tanner continuing to work as the group's "Senior Advisor." The current president is the Rev. Mark J. Farr, previously the Senior Faith Director of the Points of Light InstitutePoints of Light Institute
The Points of Light Institute is a national nonprofit, nonpartisan organization in the United States of America dedicated to engaging more people and resources in solving serious social problems...
. Farr was selected for the position in January 2011 and officially began work as president on February 28, 2011.
External links
- Video: closing of F&P presentation by Fr. Cletus Kiley
- http://pelosi.house.gov/news/press-releases/2011/02/pelosi-remarks-honoring-congressman-john-lewis.shtmlRemarks by Majority Leader Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiNancy Patricia D'Alesandro Pelosi is the Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives and served as the 60th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives from 2007 to 2011...
at a F&P institute reception honoring Representative John LewisJohn LewisJohn Lewis may refer to:* John Lewis Partnership, a United Kingdom worker co-operative retailer** John Lewis , a department store chain in the United Kingdom-Politics:...
] - https://sites.google.com/a/faithandpolitics.org/11th-congressional-civil-rights-pilgrimageVideo: 2010 Civil Rights Pilgrimage to Montgomery and Selma Alabama, led by Representative John LewisJohn LewisJohn Lewis may refer to:* John Lewis Partnership, a United Kingdom worker co-operative retailer** John Lewis , a department store chain in the United Kingdom-Politics:...
of Georgia]