Faith and Politics Institute

Formation 1991
Founder Rev. Doug Tanner
Headquarters 110 Maryland Ave. NE, Suite 504
Location
Interim President and CEO
 Robert Liberatore
Website http://www.faithandpolitics.org

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 programs, the group "works to bridge racial, religious, and political divisions among elected officials, while promoting reflective and ethical leadership.[1][2] 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."[1]

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,[3] succeeded in 2011 by the Rev. Mark J. Farr.[4] In July 2012 Elizabeth McCloskey became the CEO and President of The Faith & Politics Institute, followed by Robert Liberatore who is the current Interim CEO and President. 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.[5]

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."[6]

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.[7] 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."[7]

Board and Advisors

The Board consists primarily of lobbyists, Government Relations professionals, and lawyers specializing in Government Regulation practices, representing such companies as Akin Gump, LLC, Alston & Bird LLP, American Airlines, American Bridge, American Values Network, Arent Fox, Aspen Institute, Association of American Publishers, Capital Concerts Inc., Coca-Cola Company, Covidien, Eleison LLC, Escambia Enterprises, Federal City Council, Fluor Corporation, Ford Motor Company, General Motors, Goldman Sachs Group, Jewish Funds for Justice, Lightbridge Corporation, Microsoft Corporation, Moore Consulting, National Association of Broadcasters, National Democratic Institute, Regions Financial, The First Group, The Memorial Foundation, TwinLogic Strategies,[8] United Health Group, and Williams & Jensen, and others.[9]

In addition to the Board, the Institute includes a “Corporate Advisory Council” composed exclusively of Lobbyists and Government Relations professionals. The members are : Joyce Brayboy (The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.), Myra Dandridge (National Association of Broadcasters), Matt Gelman (Microsoft Corporation), Alison Jones (Ford Motor Company), Norma Kaehler (American Airlines), Janine Kellner (The Coca-Cola Company), David Marventano (Fluor Corporation), Melinda Maxfield (Williams & Jensen PLLC), Chris Scribner (Regions Financial), Kyle Simmons (The First Group), Dan Turton (General Motors), Kimberly Woodard (The Memorial Foundation)[9]

Programs and activities

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.[10] 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 Joseph 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." [11]
  • 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.[12]

The Faith & Politics Institute just concluded its annual Congressional Pilgrimage to Alabama to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of "Bloody Sunday". The Institute brought together an unprecedented number of Senators and Members of Congress in a bipartisan fashion to reflect on the Civil Rights struggle of the past. There were over 100 lawmakers in attendance during the 3 day weekend including addresses and appearances by former President George W. Bush and President Obama in Selma, Alabama.

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 Institute, partner with the Institute to support a wide variety of its programs,[13] while others focus on specific events, including:

  • Congressional Conversations on Race: co-sponsored with Search for Common Ground, 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.[14][15]
  • 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 war 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, Father 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."[3] The current president is the Rev. Mark J. Farr, previously the Senior Faith Director of the Points of Light Institute.[16] Farr was selected for the position in January 2011 and officially began work as president on February 28, 2011.[4] Rob Liberatore, is the current Interim President and CEO while a national search is conducted for a new President.

References

  1. 1 2 "Grants 2010". mott.org. 13 June 2010. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  2. ↑ https://www.mott.org/grants/faith-and-politics-institute-congressional-conversations-on-race-program-development-200100932-01/
  3. 1 2 "Father Kiley to Head The Faith & Politics Institute". USCCB - (Office of Media Relations). 8 April 2006. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  4. 1 2 "Leadership Guide - Annual Report". The Faith & Politics Institute. 21 February 2014. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  5. ↑ "Congressman John Lewis Recieves(sic) Medal of Freedom". The Common Ground Blog. 10 August 2011. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  6. ↑ "Faith and Politics Institute". NNDB. 14 November 2017. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  7. 1 2 "Staff and Board". The Faith & Politics Institute. 4 January 2012. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  8. ↑ Christina Wilkie (April 16, 2014). "Lyft Prepares To Fight Ride Share Regulation By Hiring GOP-Linked Lobbyists". The Huffington Post.
  9. 1 2 "Leadership". The Faith & Politics Institute. 24 October 2016. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  10. ↑ "11th Congressional Civil Rights Pilgrimage". The Faith & Politics Institute. 29 July 2016. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  11. ↑ "St. Joseph's Breakfast". Constant Contact. 8 February 2011. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  12. ↑ "Programs and Activities". The Faith & Politics Institute. 23 December 2011. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  13. ↑ "Congressional Civil Rights Pilgrimages". Fetzer Institute. 27 September 2011. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  14. ↑ "Congressional Conversations". congressionalconversations.com. 26 March 2018. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  15. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20150305013400/http://www.faithandpolitics.org/congressional-conversations-on-race/
  16. ↑ "Staff and Board". The Faith & Politics Institute. 14 April 2012. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
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