c. 1999 Religion News Service

WASHINGTON _ The fierce battle over the impeachment of President Clinton has driven more than government drones to work late into the night. Operating with a lower profile and far different objectives, another cadre is stepping up its efforts on Capitol Hill _ the various official and unofficial spiritual advisers to Congress.

The commodity this troup trades is delivered to politicians in Bible and Torah classes, in lectures and prayer groups and through spiritual retreats. But in a city where even a brief aside with a politician is a precious commodity, they often simply deliver their reassuring message in whispered tones:”Excuse me Senator, I just want you to know that I am praying for you.” But what happens when across the country many Democrats and Republicans report a nagging suspicion that a bitterly divided Congress has, well, failed? Have the spiritual gurus who aim to instill integrity and”neighborly love”in a highly charged partisan setting overshot their mark?”It is certainly premature to say that these efforts have failed,”said Doug Tanner, a 14-year veteran of ministry on Capitol Hill.”But, at the same time, don’t assume that religious organizations alone can change the nature of a given political era.” On the other hand, said Tanner of the politicized House debate on impeachment where the partisan often seemed to turn personal,”it certainly means that we didn’t do (our work) as well as it could be done.” Tanner is the executive director of the Faith and Politics Institute which he founded in 1991 and which seeks to help lawmakers and their staffs keep in touch with their deeper values.

Through activities ranging from weekly reflection groups to hosting speakers and sponsoring occasional retreats, organizations like Tanner’s grant some of the country’s most powerful leaders a brief repose from the breakneck pace of life”on the Hill.” Religious convictions spurred politicians on both sides of the impeachment debate, demonstrating that faith can divide as often as it heals.”If we had all been doing our work, you could have seen that kind of disagreement and passion and not the dehumanizing of each other,”said Tanner.”Whether you are conservative or liberal, Democrat or Republican is not really important,”said Rabbi Levi Shemtov, director of the Washington office of American Friends of Lubavitch.”What I try to stress is, whatever your political affiliation, allow yourself to recognize common objectives.” Because of what religious activists believe is the enormous potential of the political process to serve God, religion is especially important in Washington, said Shemtov, who founded Capitol Jewish Forum to serve Jewish members of Congress and their staff.”Working on the Hill, in Congress, can be more than just a political activity if it is a means to enhance the community, if it is a means to help those that need a better life. Then, it becomes not just a political activity but a divine enterprise. “It is up to individuals whether their work will be merely politics or whether it will be something divine,”he said.

Sam McCullough, acting director of the Christian Embassy, said that even the most successful ministry will not make disagreements disappear.”We are not responsible for the country. And remember, the Congress changes very often. There have been lots of individuals who have either come to Christ or grown in their faith.” The Arlington, Va., based Embassy offers Christian guidance to lawmakers, their families and their staff.

According to McCullough, as the nation’s leaders find Christ, the way they make laws is going to reflect this inner process.

In spite of the current crisis, the work of God moves forward, according to several religious activists who work on Capitol Hill.”There are a lot of positive things that have happened,”McCullough said,”even though we might not be happy with what is going on around us right now. But, who can control that?” But in a town of legislative muscle and sly maneuvering, is a Bible study or a prayer group anything but irrelevant the moment the first political hard-ball gets tossed?

Senate Chaplain Lloyd John Ogilvie says he doesn’t believe so.”The Senators are able to work more creatively together in finding a solution because of the fact that they have been together in Bible study and prayer. Many of them know each other as men and women of faith,”he said.”Of course, that will be tested in the upcoming procedure,”he added, referring to the Senate impeachment trial which opened Jan. 7 and moved into full speed Thursday (Jan. 14).

Ogilvie, and House Chaplain, the Rev. James Ford, oversee the opening of each legislative session with prayer and perform other duties such as leading prayer groups, providing counseling and officiating at wedding ceremonies.

Ogilvie said he plans to arrange a special time of prayer with the Senators during the impeachment trial.

Bible studies, prayer groups and retreats can offer a”perspective that keeps major things major and minor things minor,”said James Dunn, executive director for the Baptist Joint Committee, a Washington-based lobbying organization for a number of Baptist denominations and agencies.

But Dunn is not overly confident the Senate is up to the job ahead. “I have detected very little humility on both sides lately,”said Dunn, who believes the trait is paramount in leadership. In the past,”there was a qualitative difference between the commitment to speak about the issues and not the person.” But Frank Wright, director of the Center for Christian Statesmanship, called that”individual”failures, not institutional ones.”I would tend to say that what we saw in the Judiciary Committee was individual failure. We would like to hope that individuals can rise above that, but maybe in this situation that is expecting too much.” Wright said humans have a fallen nature, but that does not mean ministry on Capitol Hill has failed. He said that especially during times of difficulty it is important to be aware of larger forces working in people’s lives, and that is where religion comes into play.”The Scripture says that there are forces of darkness,”he said.”I am sure that those forces are pleased when there is spiritual emnity between folks on both sides of the aisle.” But will anything good surface as a result?

Possibly, said Shemtov, Americans may grow from the impeachment experience.”I have seen more searching as a result of this process,”said Shemtov, adding quickly that, however,”there are better ways to grow.” Meanwhile, there is a lot of bipartisan hurt on Capitol Hill.”I just hope that when this is all over, we can heal fully from it,”said Shemtov.”Two-hundred and fifty million people are a little different than they were six months ago.”

DEA END ROCKWOOD