Our Story
In 1983 John Palafoutas and Paul McNulty gathered with fellow Christians working on Capitol Hill to grapple with consequential questions: How does my Christian faith impact and inform my work in the public square? How do I put God’s teaching before the party line? How do I develop a biblical perspective on specific policies?
The conversation caught on. Reading groups formed. Renowned authors and theologians were invited to speak. Members of Congress got involved. Faith and Law was born.
A lot has changed since 1983, but questions about how to apply one’s faith to the complexity of public life have only become more acute.
Faith and Law’s mission is to support Christian congressional staff and Members of Congress as they seek to understand the implications of the biblical worldview for their calling to the public square.
We fulfill this mission by bringing a broad spectrum of distinguished Christian speakers to Capitol Hill to address contemporary political and cultural issues. We also support House and Senate reading groups, run a robust mentorship program, and host a quarterly breakfast for Members of Congress.
Faith and Law does not strive to teach congressional staff what to think – but rather how to think faithfully about public policy, drawing from our rich biblical and theological tradition. By providing a venue for a theologically vibrant community, Faith and Law encourages Hill staff to consider how their faith inspires both word and deed in the hard task of governing.
As a non-partisan organization, Faith and Law recognizes that thoughtful Christians often come to different policy conclusions. We do not know exactly what God thinks about tax, housing or education policy, but we do firmly believe God cares about it all … because He is sovereign over all.
Founding Thinkers of Faith & Law
Dr. R.C. Sproul
In January 1985, R.C. Sproul spoke at the very first Faith & Law Lecture, which met in the U.S. Capitol building.
Dr. R.C. Sproul was founder of Ligonier Ministries, co-pastor of Saint Andrew’s Chapel in Sanford, Fla., first president of Reformation Bible College, and executive editor of Tabletalk magazine.
Chuck Colson
Chuck Colson spoke many times during the first three decades of Faith and Law and was a significant financial supporter of our effort. Faith and Law Founder John Palafoutas says, “I’ll never forget the time he spoke to Faith and Law in the Senate Caucus Room, the same room in which the Watergate Hearings were conducted, which testimony eventually led to his criminal conviction and prison sentence, and by the Grace of God, his conversion to Jesus Christ. I had the great privilege of introducing him at that lecture, his final appearance at Faith and Law.”
Os Guinness
Os Guinness has been Faith and Law’s most frequent and faithful speaker. He is beloved by the Faith and Law community and always draws the largest audience of the year.
Guinness is an author and social critic. Great-great-great grandson of Arthur Guinness, the Dublin brewer, he was born in China in World War Two where his parents were medical missionaries. A witness to the climax of the Chinese revolution in 1949, he was expelled with many other foreigners in 1951 and returned to Europe where he was educated in England. He completed his undergraduate degree at the University of London and his D.Phil in the social sciences from Oriel College, Oxford.
