Faith and Politics Institute

Formation	1991
Founder	Rev. Doug Tanner
Headquarters	110 Maryland Ave. NE, Suite 504
Location	Washington, D.C.
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. 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. In July 2012 Elizabeth McCloskey became the CEO and President of The Faith & Politics Institute, followed by Robert Liberatore whom 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.

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, 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."