National Clergy Council Member Serves as Guest Chaplain for Congress

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Contact: Dane Rose, 202-546-8329 ext. 106; Rev. Rob Schenck, 703-447-7686 cell, both of the National Clergy Council

WASHINGTON, July 20 /Christian Newswire/ -- The Reverend Phil Fulton of Peebles, Ohio, a member of the National Clergy Council executive committee, was invited by Rep. Jean Schmidt (R-OH) to serve as guest chaplain to the United States House of Representatives for Thursday, July 20.

Mr. Fulton, pastor of the Union Hill Church in Peebles, and a leader of the Adams County for the Ten Commandments Committee, delivered today's opening prayer for the congressional session. He was introduced by Speaker of the House J. Dennis Hastert. Congresswoman Schmidt followed Mr. Fulton's prayer by reading a biography of Mr. Fulton into the Congressional Record, commending him for his extensive ministry work, including his efforts to promote the public display of the Ten Commandments.

Speaker Hastert later hosted Mr. Fulton, his wife Sharon and National Clergy Council president, the Reverend Rob Schenck and his wife, Cheryl, in the Speaker's elaborate US Capitol office.

Mr. Fulton was the first pastor in America arrested for defending a public display of the Ten Commandments. In June of 2003, he and other church and civic leaders knelt to pray alongside a stone monument of the Ten Commandments in front of an Adams County public school. The monument had been ordered removed by the federal courts. Police took Mr. Fulton into custody after they ordered him to stop praying so that a crane could be lowered to pull the monument from its foundation.

This past Memorial Day, Mr. Fulton helped install a similar monument in the front garden of the National Clergy Council headquarters in Washington, DC. The government of the District of Columbia at first ordered that monument to be removed, threatening fines and possible forced sale of the property. The government relented three weeks later, determining that the National Clergy Council and its affiliate, Faith and Action, have a right under the First Amendment to the US Constitution to maintain the display.

Mr. and Mrs. Fulton will be the guests of honor at a reception at the National Clergy Council headquarters later today.

Mr. Fulton is available for further comment. Contact Dane Rose of the National Clergy Council at 202-546-8329, ext. 106.