Trip to Washington, D.C. – October 17, 2007

In September, I received an invitation from Lois Capps, to attend a “Central Coast Faith Leaders Day on the Hill.”  I was one of twenty faith leaders (Protestant, Catholic, Muslim, and Jewish, including four African-Americans) from Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo counties invited to be part of a day-long series of conversations between us and representatives of Congress exploring the role of faith and politics in approaching issues such as the environment, social justice, and peace and pluralism at home and abroad.

The day began with a breakfast hosted by Lois Capps in Room 2105 of the Rayburn Building.  Tables were arranged in a rectangle and we were seated around three sides.  People who were speaking spoke with their back to a window that looked out on the Capital Dome across the streets.  Congressional staff people stood at the back of the room and along the sides.

The weather in Washington was great -- blue skies and 80 degrees. 

There was excitement in the city that day, as the Dalai Lama would be receiving the Medal of Honor from President Bush in the Capital rotunda at 1 PM.

The first speaker was Donald Coughlin, the first Roman Catholic Chaplain of the House.  He welcomed us and noted that the greatest gift America has to offer the world is religious freedom.

During the rest of the day, ten different Representatives entered the room to reflect on the role of faith in their own life and offer comments on the topics on the day’s agenda.  Highlights included:

• Hearing Emmanuel Cleaver, newly elected Representative from Kansas City, who is the Senior Pastor of a large Methodist Church.  He continues to preach every Sunday in his district as he serves in Congress.  He spoke on the theology of confronting climate change.
• The legendary John Lewis, Representative from Atlanta.  Mr. Lewis was a leader with Martin Luther King in the civil rights movement in the 60s, and was beaten on the Edmund Pettis Bridge in Selma while leading a nonviolent march.  He spoke about his sense of calling to integrate faith with social change.
• A “VIP” tour of the Library of Congress after lunch.
• James P. McGovern, Representative from Massachusetts, who described how his Catholic faith was renewed when he was part of a delegation sent to El Salvador to investigate the murder of two nuns and four Jesuit priests.
• The appearance of the House Majority Leader, Whip and Speaker. The speaker noted her belief that science and faith can exist without contradiction, saying, “Sometimes science can give us answers to our prayers.”
• Keith Ellison, the newly elected Representative from Minneapolis, who is both the first African-American to represent Minnesota and the first Muslim. He spoke about the need to oppose all forms of religious fundamentalism that lead to violence and the role of religious liberty in America.

When the day concluded, we went to the Capital steps for a group picture. We then had the option of going into the House gallery to watch debates preceding votes on a railroad safety bill and the attempted revision of surveillance legislation.  As is the custom, the rail bill debate went on in an almost empty chamber until the time of voting, when all the Representatives filed in to pass it.  Debate and vote on the surveillance bill was delayed at the last minute until the following week.

The final event was an evening reception at a nearby Georgian row house.  Several other Representatives dropped by, including Rep. Berry from Arkansas (a rice farmer) and Maxine Waters from Los Angeles.

Among the participants I enjoyed meeting was Dr. Rakman from San Luis Obispo, a UCLA-trained emergency physician, who has been involved in medical work with our government in Afghanistan, as well as in the West Bank.  His story of how he has become active in interfaith work and service was memorable.  I also was impressed with Broderick Huggins, pastor of St. Paul Baptist Church in Oxnard, (whose grandfather had been lynched by the Klan just before his father was born) and Edgar Mohorko, pastor of a large Hispanic Foursquare church also in Oxnard.

I bought a book to read on the trip that proved to be ideal: Head and Heart: American Christianities by Gary Willis, which traces the religious history of America between cycles of evangelical fervor and religious tolerance.  Willis (who won the Pulitzer Prize for his book on Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address) believes that these cycles will never diminish and are one reason why religious life in America is as rich and dynamic as it is.

My trip was paid for by funds received as part of my interfaith project last year.  It was inspiring for me to be engaged in conversations about faith and American life in the very buildings where our national debates take place and lasting decisions are made.