God Is in the House

North Carolina's fifth congressional district is represented by Foxx, a self-identified Catholic-Baptist and Republican, who wants to restore Americans' faith in the churchgoing members of Congress. By collecting short faith testimonies by current and former congressional representatives, Democrats and Republicans, men and women, from across Christian denominations, Foxx pulls back the curtain on Capitol Hill Bible studies and prayer groups, revealing a surprising bipartisan unity when it comes to nurturing one's faith life in the midst of often corrosive politics. Janice Hahn, a Democrat from California and daughter of Church of Christ missionaries, writes, "For me, religious participation removes the toxicity and the feeling that you must hate the other side and question their motives." Sue Myrick, a Methodist and Republican from North Carolina, started the women's Bible study group in Congress. "There were several Bible study groups for male members of Congress," she writes, "but not one for female members." Catholics, Protestants, evangelicals, and others candidly discuss their religious backgrounds, daily practices, the establishment clause of the First Amendment, and public service as an act of faith. (Sept.)