Faith and Action is a Christian outreach whose mission is to challenge Capitol Hill with Biblical Truth and change the nation one policy maker at a time. From our mission base at the National Ministry Center, immediately across the street from the U.S. Supreme Court on Capitol Hill, Faith and Action is uniquely positioned to minister to individuals in all three branches of the federal government. Our mission field spans Pennsylvania Avenue, from the U.S Capitol and the U.S. Supreme Court to the White House. We confront key Washington leaders with the powerful claims of the Gospel and reminders of the prominent role that the Word of God played in the creation of our nation and its laws. We do this through news conferences, symposia, panel discussions, literature distribution, the internet and face-to-face conversations with these key Washington leaders.

Is Faith and Action a Lobbying Group??

"We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God." (2 Cor 5:20 NIV)

The question we are asked most about our work on Capitol Hill is, "Is Faith and Action some kind of lobbying group?" People assume that because we visit with government officials, we must be pressuring them to do something. In a way we are, but it is not lobbying as defined by the Federal government and prohibited by our tax-exempt status.

The political term "lobby" is popularly pegged to President Ulysses Grant who seemingly had a habit of smoking cigars and drinking in the lobby of the Willard Hotel here in Washington. Individuals seeking political favors from Grant used to wait in the lobby for a chance to speak to him; thus, the neologism, "lobbyist." 

In a technical sense, a lobbyist is someone who is paid to achieve political or other favorable outcomes from governments on behalf of clients. They do this by visiting with members of Congress, the administration or other government entities and making their case. Lobbyists or lobbying groups also use public pressure to persuade decision makers. Their advertising and direct mail campaigns often recruit citizens to sign petitions, make phone calls, write letters or send E-mails.

Faith and Action occasionally employs some of these techniques to urge those who make public policy to take some kind of action. However, no one has ever paid Faith and Action to achieve a particular political outcome. Faith and Action is not a political or public interest organization. There are Christian versions of these on Capitol Hill and they exist only to affect public policy outcomes. There are also legal groups that seek to change public policy through the courts.

Faith and Action, on the other hand, is a Christian missionary outreach. Our singular purpose is to proclaim the Word of God. Public officials and those who work for them make up our target "people group." We are preachers--not lobbyists, lawyers or public policy "wonks." Our script doesn't come from our "clients." (We don't even have any clients!) Our script comes from the Bible alone!

This is why you often see us in the news speaking with a Bible in hand or in prayer on our knees. This is why we have a scripture banner above the front door of our ministry center and a monument of the Ten Commandments across the street from the Supreme Court and U.S. Capitol.

If we're imploring anyone to do anything, it's to consider God's Truth revealed in Jesus Christ. If a piece of legislation, an administration policy or a court case intersects with something clearly set forth in Holy Scripture, we speak out about it. Otherwise, we leave it to others to address. Our concern is that, "God's Word only may be spoken and God's Word only may be heard."

So, when you support the work of Faith and Action, you support the work of missionaries called to a particular people group in a particular city. Our appeal is to their souls and consciences. Our hope and prayer is that they will see God's Truth, turn their hearts and minds to Him, and obey His precepts. Even if they are not "converted," we remind them that they are no less accountable to the One, True and Living God.

Accountability

The employees of Faith and Action are held accountable to the highest moral and ethical standards. Faith and Action is a registered name for P&R Schenck, Associates in Evangelism, Inc. (1982), a New York State not-for-profit religious / charitable corporation classified under IRC 501 (c) (3). A six-member board of trustees supervises the policies and practices of the organization. A volunteer general counsel (attorney) and a paid compliance attorney oversee the legal aspects of the corporation including registration with all 50 state attorneys general and the annual production of a financial audit. The executives of the corporation are each held accountable to their respective church authorities. P&R Schenck, Associates in Evangelism is also a member organization of the Evangelical Church Alliance, a 100-year-old association that monitors the doctrinal and ethical practices of missionary organizations.