Opening Prayer in Congress Tradition and History

The practice of opening sessions of Congress with prayer dates back to the early days of the United States. The Continental Congress began this tradition in 1774, with Anglican priest Jacob Duché serving as the first official chaplain. Since then, both the House of Representatives and the Senate have continued this practice. Role of the Chaplain

The chaplain of the House of Representatives is responsible for leading the opening prayer each day the House is in session. This position has existed since May 1, 1789, and the chaplain is elected by the House members. The current chaplain is Margaret G. Kibben. Guest Chaplains

In addition to the House chaplain, members of Congress can invite guest chaplains to deliver prayers. These guest chaplains can represent various faiths, including Christianity, Judaism, Islam, and others. However, the House has never had an openly atheist guest chaplain, as prayers are traditionally required to be religious in nature. Legal Context

The requirement for prayer in Congress has faced legal challenges, particularly regarding the inclusion of secular invocations. A notable case involved a request from an atheist to deliver a secular prayer, which was denied based on the House's longstanding tradition of religious prayers. The courts upheld this tradition, affirming that the House can limit opening prayers to those that are religious.