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Created in 1995, Faith and Action’s Ten Commandments Project has given more than 400 plaques depicting the Ten Commandments to members of Congress and other highly placed officials, including former presidents Clinton and Bush.<ref>Goode, Stephen; Greg Whitesell. "Brothers in Life, Brothers in Christ. (Interview)."} News World Communications, Inc. 2001. 28 Sep. 2010</ref> Special delegations of clergy and lay people made presentations during ceremonies in the recipients’ offices. The agenda included a short speech describing religion as the foundational basis of morality and law, a reading of the Commandments in their entirety, and prayers. The official was given an inscribed wooden plaque on which was mounted two stone polymer tablets containing a summary of the Ten Commandments. Recipients are urged to “display and obey” the Ten Commandments.<ref>Michelle Boorstein. "Group Aims to Unveil Ten Commandments; Tablets Under Wraps Near Supreme Court." The Washington Post. Washington Post Newsweek Interactive Co. 2006. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/31/AR2006053101970.html].</ref>
Created in 1995, Faith and Action’s Ten Commandments Project has given more than 400 plaques depicting the Ten Commandments to members of Congress and other highly placed officials, including former presidents Clinton and Bush.<ref>Goode, Stephen; Greg Whitesell. "Brothers in Life, Brothers in Christ. (Interview)."} News World Communications, Inc. 2001. 28 Sep. 2010</ref> Special delegations of clergy and lay people made presentations during ceremonies in the recipients’ offices. The agenda included a short speech describing religion as the foundational basis of morality and law, a reading of the Commandments in their entirety, and prayers. The official was given an inscribed wooden plaque on which was mounted two stone polymer tablets containing a summary of the Ten Commandments. Recipients are urged to “display and obey” the Ten Commandments.<ref>Michelle Boorstein. "Group Aims to Unveil Ten Commandments; Tablets Under Wraps Near Supreme Court." The Washington Post. Washington Post Newsweek Interactive Co. 2006. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/31/AR2006053101970.html].</ref>

===Anti-abortion work===
As of 2003, Faith and Action was a member of the National Pro-Life Religious Council.<ref>"National Religious Leaders Call for Continuous Prayer to Overturn Roe vs. Wade." U.S. Newswire. US Newswire. 2003.</ref> Rev. Schenck participated in the events surrounding [[Terri Schiavo]]'s death. Schenck traveled to Florida to try to prevent Schiavo from being allowed to die and publicly called for police to prevent the same.<ref>"Coalition Calls Upon Bush to Save Schiavo's Life by Using PolicePowers; Press Conferences in Washington, Tallahassee March 23.". US Newswire. 2005.</ref> He was also a signatory of a letter to President George Bush and Florida Gov. Jeb Bush by national [[anti-abortion]] leaders.<ref>"Open Letter from 11th Hour Coalition to save Terri Schiavo's life to President Bush and Gov. Bush" US Newswire. 2005.</ref>{{better source|date=July 2023}} In 2005, Faith and Action served as a clearinghouse for donations to the family of Susan Torres, a brain-dead pregnant woman being kept on life support so that she could give birth.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brant |first=Martha |date=2005-07-31 |title=A DYING MOTHER'S FINAL PRAYER |url=https://www.newsweek.com/dying-mothers-final-prayer-121289 |access-date=2023-09-26 |website=Newsweek |language=en}}</ref>

In 1995, Rev. Schenck organized the first National Memorial for the Preborn and their Mothers and Fathers. This Memorial is a religious service against [[abortion]].<ref>Dana Milbank. "The Marchers State Their Case: Alito v. 'Roe'." [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/23/AR2006012301504.html] The Washington Post. Washington Post Newsweek Interactive Co. 2006.</ref> This quickly became a prominent [[anti-abortion]] event held inside the US Capitol complex in Washington, DC. Originally a program of the National Clergy Council, the event has now been renamed the National Pro-Life Clergy Conference and is sponsored by the National Pro-Life Religious Council.<ref>National Memorial for the Preborn and their Mothers and Fathers Removed From Capitol Buildings. [http://www.standardnewswire.com/news/218132155.html] Standard Newswire, January 17, 2008.</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.priestsforlife.org/eventsnew.aspx|title=Upcoming National Pro-Life Events|website=www.priestsforlife.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.blurbwire.com/topics/Rob_Schenck::sub::D_C_Ministry |title=Rob Schenck DC Ministry. Blurbwire.com |access-date=2011-02-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708074227/http://www.blurbwire.com/topics/Rob_Schenck::sub::D_C_Ministry |archive-date=2011-07-08 |url-status=dead }}</ref>


===The Nativity Project===
===The Nativity Project===

Revision as of 18:04, 26 September 2023

Faith and Action in the Nation’s Capital, a fictitious name for P&R Schenck Associates in Evangelism, Inc., has its organizational headquarters in Washington, D.C. The stated purpose is to "bring the good news of salvation in Jesus the Messiah to strategic places in the world and to participate in the evangelization of the world.[1] The President of the organization is Rev. Rob Schenck.[6]

History and activities

In August 1994, Schenck moved from Tonawanda (Buffalo area), New York to Washington D.C. to begin an outreach to policy makers. Initially known as “Operation Save Our Nation” it became known as “Faith and Action in the Nation’s Capital” or simply “Faith and Action”. In 2000, an ordaining council of the Come Alive New Testament Church of Medford, New Jersey officially commissioned Schenck as a missionary to Capitol Hill.[citation needed]

The name Faith and Action was taken over by Liberty Counsel in 2018 and renamed Faith and Liberty.[2] Schenck kept the organization P&R Schenck Associates in Evangelism and moved the headquarters to 113 South West Street in D.C.[7]

Methodology

Schenck has said that the organization purposes to “win the hearts and minds of those who make public policy”[3] and also called Faith and Action “a Christian outreach whose mission is to reintroduce the Word of God into the public debate surrounding legislation and policy matters".[3] Faith and Action targeted elected officials, government employees, Supreme Court justices and clerks, and other government personnel.[4]

The Honorable William Ostrowski House

The organization was headquartered in the Honorable William J. Ostrowski House, named for the retired New York State Supreme Court judge and long-time supporter of the Schenck brothers’ efforts.[3] The property included the Cora Bieber Garden, which was named for Lancaster, Pennsylvania’s Cora Bieber in 2007.[5]

One notable feature of the ministry office is a granite sculpture depicting the Ten Commandments displayed in the building’s front garden. On Memorial Day in 2006, the monument was placed in the front of the building, readily noticeable from the street.[6]

Ten Commandments Project

The Ten Commandments Project was an operation of Faith and Action. Faith and Action's motto was "bringing the word of God to bear on the hearts and minds of those who make public policy in America." One of its goals is to "restore the moral foundations of our American culture" through placing Ten Commandments displays in public buildings.[7]

Created in 1995, Faith and Action’s Ten Commandments Project has given more than 400 plaques depicting the Ten Commandments to members of Congress and other highly placed officials, including former presidents Clinton and Bush.[8] Special delegations of clergy and lay people made presentations during ceremonies in the recipients’ offices. The agenda included a short speech describing religion as the foundational basis of morality and law, a reading of the Commandments in their entirety, and prayers. The official was given an inscribed wooden plaque on which was mounted two stone polymer tablets containing a summary of the Ten Commandments. Recipients are urged to “display and obey” the Ten Commandments.[9]

The Nativity Project

In 2005 Faith and Action ministry began sponsoring a Capitol Hill Nativity Scene during the Christmas season.[10][11]

Ministry

Faith and Action engages in religious activity as well as advocacy. Rev. Schenk used a ritual of blessing and prayer to seek divine guidance for the committee and the jurist during the confirmation hearings of Supreme Court Justices Samuel Alito.[12] and Sonja Sotomayor[13] A similar anointing and prayer ritual was used to seek God’s guidance for President Obama when Rev. Schenck anointed the doorway to the inauguration through which the president elect would walk to the Inaugural stage. This was part of a 19-day effort of prayer and fasting for Obama and his presidency.[14] This was a continuation of official prayer for the new president that began with President George W. Bush’s Second term.[15]

Monument relocation from Ohio

In May 2009, Rev. Schenck joined Republican Rep. Jean Schmidt and other Ohio leaders help relocate a Ten Commandments sculpture. The 3-foot by 3-foot granite sculpture, which weighs 850 pounds, is one of four monuments removed by federal court order from the fronts of public schools in rural Adams County, Ohio. The monument was placed in a prominent position on private property. The monument is identical to the one situated in the front of the Faith and Action ministry center on Capitol Hill.[16]

References

  1. ^ "Charity Navigator - Rating for P&R Schenck Associates in Evangelism Inc". www.charitynavigator.org. Retrieved 2023-09-26.
  2. ^ Canellos, Peter S.; Gerstein, Josh (July 8, 2022). "'Operation Higher Court': Inside the religious right's efforts to wine and dine Supreme Court justices". Politico. Retrieved 2022-11-23.
  3. ^ a b c D'Agostino, Joseph A. "Conservative Spotlight: Faith and Action."[1] Human Events. Human Events Publishing Inc. March 22, 2004.
  4. ^ Faith and Action Website
  5. ^ Laura Knowles. "A garden tribute to Lititz woman's aid work." Lancaster New Era Lancaster, PA. Lancaster Newspapers Inc. (PA). 2008.
  6. ^ "Commandments monument not a concern. (Metropolitan)." The Washington Times (Washington, DC). News World Communications, Inc. 2006..
  7. ^ "The American Prospect. FundamentaList. September 24, 2008".
  8. ^ Goode, Stephen; Greg Whitesell. "Brothers in Life, Brothers in Christ. (Interview)."} News World Communications, Inc. 2001. 28 Sep. 2010
  9. ^ Michelle Boorstein. "Group Aims to Unveil Ten Commandments; Tablets Under Wraps Near Supreme Court." The Washington Post. Washington Post Newsweek Interactive Co. 2006. [2].
  10. ^ Mark Wilson. "Christian Groups Display Nativity Scene On Capitol Hill."[3] Getty Images. 2005.
  11. ^ "Faith Organizations to Publicly Display Nativity Scene on Capitol Hill Right Behind United States Supreme Court." US Newswire. 2005.
  12. ^ Ministers Say They Blessed Seats Ahead of Alito Hearing”[4] Wall Street Journal, Jan 5, 2006
  13. ^ "A Supreme blessing.(CULTURE)(HOT BUTTON)(Column)."The Washington Times[dead link] (Washington, DC). News World Communications, Inc. 2009. 28 September 2010.
  14. ^ "Obama Used a Door Anointed with Oil From Jerusalem to Enter Inaugural State."[5] The Hindustan Times. HT Media Ltd. 2009.
  15. ^ "Christians to Begin Inauguration Day Thanking God for Bush Re- Election." US Newswire. 2005.
  16. ^ "On a mission. (Citizen Journalism: Faith) (Bulletin Board) (Column)." The Washington Times (Washington, DC). News World Communications, Inc. 2009.
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