Mentorship and Scholars Programs
Through our mentorship and scholars experiences, we hope to connect senior Hill staff to junior Hill staff in order to invest in the next generation and equip them to integrate their Christian faith with their vocation on Capitol Hill.
Through this mentorship experience, mentees are able to wrestle with complex questions about politics, policy, and faith. Further, it is our desire for mentees to have someone with more experience and wisdom to call upon as complex career-related situations and opportunities arise.
In 2025, Faith and Law launched our Scholars Program. This in-depth program was designed to equip Hill staff with the knowledge and insight to apply the biblical worldview to public policy. Over the course of five months, Scholars explore the key theological components of orthodox Christianity—Creation, Fall, Redemption and Restoration—and how these components should shape Christian engagement with the public square.
2026 Scholars Program
Building on our popular mentorship program, the Faith and Law Scholars program focuses on developing the knowledge and wisdom needed to apply the biblical worldview to specific public policy questions. The goal of the program is to assist Hill staff in thinking deeper about how the Christian worldview contributes to human flourishing, and how to incorporate that into policymaking.
What is the time commitment?
Participants are expected to attend at least five out of the seven scheduled seminars, meet with their policy mentor at least three times, write a five-page policy paper and present it at a one-day retreat in January 2027. Those who successfully complete all aspects of the program will be recognized at Faith and Law’s annual Evening Forum in 2027. Scholars’ participation in five out of seven seminars and the January retreat are required for successful program completion.
Who should apply? What are the expectations?
Prospective Scholars must be serious about their Christian faith and committed to full participation in the program. Mid- to senior-level staff are strongly encouraged to apply, particularly those who have completed Faith and Law’s mentorship program. Three years of service on the Hill are required for Scholars Program candidates.
Please find key dates below. Attendance at five of the seven seminars is mandatory. Lunch or dinner will be provided.
- Scholars Program application due: September 4, 2026
- Scholars Program acceptance emails sent: September 14, 2026
- Seminar #1: Introduction and Overview – September 22, 12:00 PM-1:00 PM
- Seminar #2: Creation – October 6, 12:00 PM-1:00 PM
- Seminar #3: Dinner Discussion – October 20, 5:30 PM – 6:00 PM
- Seminar #4: The Fall – November 19, 12:00-1:00 PM
- Seminar #5: Dinner Discussion – November 24, 5:30 PM-6:00 PM
- Seminar #6: Redemption – December 1, 12:00 PM-1:00 PM
- Seminar #7: Dinner Discussion – December 15, 5:30 PM-6:00 PM
- Paper presentations at one-day retreat – January 9, 2027
- Recognition of the Scholars at Faith and Law Evening Forum – TBD 2027
Please reach out to Maddie Foster with any questions at mfoster@faithandlaw.org.
One requirement of Faith and Law’s new in-depth Scholars program is to analyze a public policy issue using biblical principles. The Scholars have written thoughtful papers on issues ranging from foreign aid to bioethics, and from religious freedom to civil dialogue. As part of our program review, we asked our Scholars to reflect on the value of this assignment. Marcos B., an aspiring lawyer now headed to Harvard Law School, said, “The very act of having to write the paper gave me the confidence that I can, in fact, apply tenets of my Christian faith to my vocation.” Jake M., a deputy chief of staff for a Congressman said, “It was so helpful to get back to ‘first principles’ so we just don’t start with polling data to determine the right thing to do.”
