Daily Mountain Eagle | Jasper Pastor Leads Prayer in House Chamber

Jasper Pastor Leads Prayer in House Chamber
By James Phillips | Daily Mountain Eagle | December 30, 2011

Dennis Culbreth, pastor of Jasper’s First Baptist Church, gave the opening prayer Wednesday as guest chaplain before the U.S. House of Representatives.

Culbreth, who spent Wednesday and Thursday in Washington, D.C., with his wife, Marybeth, and his son, Matthew, said giving the opening prayer was an honor.

“This was a once in a lifetime opportunity,” Culbreth said in a phone interview Thursday afternoon while he was driving back to Jasper. “To stand before Congress and lead a prayer was a great experience. I was able to stand where the president stands when he gives the state of the union address.”

U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-Haleyville) invited Culbreth to serve as guest chaplain.

“It is an honor and a privilege to have Dennis Culbreth with us in Washington, D.C. as guest chaplain,” Aderholt said in a press release. “Dr. Culbreth is a devoted and inspired leader that proudly serves his congregation and the Lord in all that he does. I am grateful for his beautiful blessing before the House and his unwavering commitment to our community.”

Culbreth said he and his family spent time with Aderholt, as well as House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio. Culbreth’s family was in the speaker’s box during Wednesday’s opening prayer.

“Both men were very friendly,” Culbreth said. “We were able to have lunch in one of the Congressional dining rooms, and I had the bean soup that everyone talks about.”

The trip wasn’t the family’s first to Washington, so sightseeing wasn’t a priority, but Culbreth said a trip through the Supreme Court was a highlight.

“They are currently going over the health care bill,” he said. “They were adjourned when we were there, so we had a chance to go into the courtroom. That was interesting.”

According to the Office of the Chaplain of the United States House of Representatives’ website, the practice of inviting guest chaplains to open the proceedings of the House dates back to the beginnings of the Congress. The first elected Chaplain of the House was the Rev. William Linn. His election, on May 1, 1789, continued the tradition established by the Continental Congresses of each day’s proceedings opening with a prayer by a chaplain. The early chaplains alternated duties with their Senate counterparts on a weekly basis and the two conducted Sunday services for the Washington community in the House chamber every other week.

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. There have been 52 different chaplains of the House of Representatives. The current chaplain is the Rev. Patrick J. Conroy, who is Roman Catholic.

Culbreth’s prayer was shown live on C-SPAN.

Culbreth prayed:

“Our Heavenly Father,

Thank you for the privilege we have to pray to you today. You are the creator of all. It is through you that we can have hope and grace. Father, you have blessed our country as no other country has been blessed. Never let this body forget your goodness and mercy to us all.

Guide these legislators in such a way that your will is promoted across the world. Continue to use us as a beacon on a hill. Because of your mercy, our country is a light of hope shining in a lost and dark world. Never let us take this freedom for granted.

As these representatives gather from all across the nation, we ask for your guidance and wisdom as these men and women make decisions that affect the lives of every American here at home and across the world.

This I pray in Jesus’ name, amen.”

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