History of the Chaplaincy

The history of the chaplaincy began in 1774, when the Continental Congress chose Episcopal Rector Jacob Duche to open its legislative sessions with prayer. In 1789 the First Congress chose Reverend William Lynn, a Presbyterian from Philadelphia, as the official Chaplain of the House. Each succeeding Congress has named a Chaplain, except the 34th to 36th Congresses (1855–1861), during which local clergy of Washington, DC, served as volunteer chaplains. In recent Supreme Court decisions, the constitutionality of the Chaplain’s role has been upheld based on precedent and tradition.

Duties of the Chaplain

According to the rules of the House, it is the duty of the Chaplain to offer an opening prayer at the commencement of each day's session of the House. The Chaplain also coordinates the guest chaplain program, which allows Members to invite clergy from their districts to offer the official daily prayer. In addition, personal counsel and general pastoral services are extended to Members and their families and to staff. By addressing the concerns and questions common to all faith traditions, the Chaplain works to create a spiritual wellspring from which the entire congressional community can draw.