Reflection Groups | all activities

The Faith & Politics Institute sponsors weekly reflection groups designed to provide occasions for quiet reflection, spiritual community, and contemplative dialogue. These group meetings allow individuals to reflect alongside one another, learn from each other, support one another and engage in meaningful conversation about values and beliefs in connection with their roles as Washington professionals. As one reflection group member has said, "What these reflection groups are really all about is keeping us grounded, connected to some more fundamental things than our daily lives, because the daily lives in politics are so chaotic and so confusing and so pressure-filled that we need another way to stay connected."

Reflection groups involve one or two trained group facilitators and a small cluster of four to eight dedicated colleagues. The facilitators are drawn from a diverse group of selected religious leaders in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area and the participants include Congressional members, staff members, and others involved in political life. The groups meet at a specific time each week, most often in the morning to minimize conflicts and interruptions but at other times during the week as well. The groups usually meet in a Member's office or another mutually convenient location and last one hour, ending promptly when the hour has drawn to a close. Individuals of all backgrounds, religious commitment, and partisanship are encouraged to participate in addition to anyone who seeks an opportunity to reflect on personal values, truths and beliefs.

FPI also sends out weekly reflections by email, which anyone can receive.  If you wish to receive our weekly email reflections, please sign up by clicking here.

For more information about congressional reflection groups, please contact Nelson Watkins at (202) 546-1299.