Chaplain of the United States House of Representatives

Chaplain of the United States House of Representatives
Seal of the House of Representatives
since January 3, 2021
TypeChaplain
AppointerHouse of Representatives
with a majority vote
Term lengthElected at the start of each Congress
Constituting instrumentConstitution of the United States, Article I, Section 2[1]
FormationMay 1, 1789
First holderWilliam Linn
House Speaker John Boehner and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi present a flag flown over the U.S. Capitol to Fr. Daniel Coughlin, in recognition of his 11 years of service as the 59th chaplain of the House of Representatives, April 2011
House Chaplain James Shera Montgomery and Speaker William Bankhead welcome Navy Chief of Chaplains Edward A. Duff, the first Navy chaplain in 117 years (since 1820) to open a House session as guest chaplain, March 25, 1937

The chaplain of the United States House of Representatives is the officer of the United States House of Representatives responsible for beginning each day's proceedings with a prayer. The House cites the first half of Article 1, Section 2, Clause 5 in the United States Constitution as giving it the authority to elect a chaplain, "The House of Representatives shall choose their speaker and other officers".[2]

The office of the clerk of the House explains "The other officers have been created and their duties defined by the rules of the House, which also are made pursuant to the authority of the Constitution, hence one of the rules prescribes the duties of the chaplain."[2]

In addition to opening proceedings with prayer, the chaplain provides pastoral counseling to the House community, coordinates the scheduling of guest chaplains, and arranges memorial services for the House and its staff. In the past, chaplains have performed marriage and funeral ceremonies for House members.

Chaplains are elected as individuals and not as representatives of any religious community, body, or organization. As of 2022, all House chaplains have been Christian but can be members of any religion or faith group. Guest chaplains, recommended by congressional members to deliver the session's opening prayer in place of the House chaplain, have represented many different religious groups, including Judaism and Islam.

The current House chaplain is Margaret G. Kibben, the first woman to hold the position.

  1. ^ "The House of Representatives shall choose their Speaker and other Officers."
  2. ^ a b "Miscellaneous Historical Data on Chaplains in the House of Representatives of the United States". Congressional Record: Volume 110. Washington, The Congress. 1964. pp. 3176–3178.