Capitol Forum Series
Public Forums | all activities

Public Forums are a variety of lectures by well-known speakers whose lives reflect moral courage in the political arena. The speakers come from very diverse political and religious backgrounds and have life experience in areas that fuse spiritual values with politics.

One of the annual forums offered for members of Congress, congressional staff and the public is the Walter Capps-Bill Emerson Memorial Lecture, given in honor of the late Congressmen Walter Capps and Bill Emerson and their valuable presence in the political arena. These two individuals were known in Washington for their compassionate spirits, which have been kept alive through the service of their wives, Lois Capps (D-Calif.) and Jo Ann Emerson (R-Mo.).

In the past, The Faith & Politics Institute has hosted speakers such as Alex Boraine, Vice-Chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission with Archbishop Desmond Tutu and former Senator George Mitchell (D-Maine).Other speakers have included The Venerable Thich Nhat Hahn (pictured at right), Dr. Carolyn T. Brown, Dr. Gerald G. May, and Jacob Needleman. These lectures are frequently co-hosted by other institutes that have a vested interest in an open forum and discussion on the given topic.

 

Recent Capitol Forums

The 2009 Capps Emerson Memorial Lecture with Ambassador Thomas Melady
Civility: For the Next Decade Sponsored by The Faith & Politics Institute and The Walter W. Capps Center for the Study of Ethics, Religion and Public Life Rayburn B369 HOB The American system of pluralism offers rich variety of thought as well as strong opinions. As we approach 2010, the topics which seem to divide us will continue to present significant challenges to our discourse...

Second in a Series: Vipassana Meditation
Location: Rayburn B340 HOB    Refreshments starting at 5:30pm. Programs begin at 6 pm. Join us for an evening to learn about Vipassana Meditation and its successful application in some prisons in the United States, including the Donaldson Prison in Alabama.  The event will include a clip from the documentary The Dhamma Brothers: East meets West in the Deep South...

First in a Series: Mindful Leadership
Join us on Tuesday, October 20 from 5:30 - 7:30 pm for the first in a series: Mindful Leadership Join Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH) along with Dr. Saki Santorelli and Janice Marturano from Center for Mindfulness, an innovative leader in mind-body medicine and mindfulness-based treatment and research investigations, pioneering the integration of meditation, leadership, and mindfulness into mainstream medicine and leadership studies...

Evening of Reflection with Parker Palmer
Honorary co-hosts Rep. Jo Ann Emerson (R-Mo.) and Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.) and The Faith & Politics Institute welcomed renowned writer, speaker and activist Parker Palmer for an evening of reflection and dialogue. The focus of Dr. Palmer’s talk was the renewal of democracy through reclaiming our roles as citizens rather than political consumers...

Truth, Reconciliation and Nation Building: South Africa’s Journey 15 years on
  Comissioner Leon Wessels talks with Fr. Clete Kiley and Rep. Rosa DeLauro (Photo credit: Byron Buck) On April 22, 2009, the Republic of South Africa celebrated 15 years of democracy with its fourth general election. The South African Embassy and The Faith & Politics Institute marked the occasion with a reception and forum discussion featuring Leon Wessels, a Commissioner on South Africa’s Human Rights Council...


Read About Other Past Forums
12345next ›last »