How faith shaped Cathy McMorris Rodgers’ path in Congress

Over her 20 years in Congress, Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers of eastern Washington has risen to hold key positions as a GOP leader. She credits her Christian faith with forging that path.

During her time in office, religious worship has declined in the U.S. and there’s controversy surrounding the role of religion in public life. Yet prayer remains a prominent part of the daily bustle in Congress.

In an interview, Chair McMorris Rodgers offers a window into how faith shapes her daily work as a member of Congress – from running high-stakes hearings to overcoming rancor among members.

One key lesson she learned was from her Jewish chief of staff, who helped her understand that the days leading up to Yom Kippur are days to get right with God and each other.

“Sometimes I feel like we need that on Capitol Hill. We need a time when we ask forgiveness,” she says. “None of us are perfect. This is the United States of America, where the preamble says, ‘We the People … in Order to form a more perfect Union …’ That search continues.”

Twenty years ago, Cathy McMorris Rodgers of eastern Washington became the 200th woman elected to Congress. She has since risen to become chair of the House Republican Conference from 2012 to 2018 and the first female chair of the powerful Energy and Commerce Committee.

Representative McMorris Rodgers is retiring from Congress next month. In a special gathering on the House floor last week, many of her colleagues cited her Christian faith as a key part of her influence and impact on the Hill.

During her time in office, religious worship has declined in the United States, with only a third of the country now attending church regularly. There’s also controversy surrounding the role of religion in public life and politics.

Yet prayer remains a prominent part of the daily bustle in Congress. Both the House and Senate open with prayers from their respective chaplains, members pray with each other and with constituents, and Congress annually hosts the National Prayer Breakfast. Some 88% of members are Christian, compared with 63% of the general population; 6% are Jewish, compared with less than 3% of the general population; and there are a handful of Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, and otherwise affiliated members.

In an interview conducted in her office, Representative McMorris Rodgers offers a window into how faith shapes her daily work as a member of Congress. A foundational Bible verse for her tenure has been Proverbs 3:5, 6 – “Lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.”

Her comments have been condensed and edited for clarity.

What Scripture did you read this morning?

For the last six or seven years, I’ve been reading through the Bible in a year. [This morning] I read [from] Amos and Revelation. And then a psalm and a proverb.