“Canadian Christians enjoy great religious liberty and that’s no different on the Hill.”

Allen Macartney
Special to Spur Ottawa

Forty years ago, Christians started meeting weekly on Parliament Hill for prayer and biblical study. Today, called the Parliament Hill Christian Fellowship, it’s still going strong.

“The people who first started meeting found a real need for Christians on the Hill to get together,” says Craig Docksteader, who co-hosts the group his wife Gail. “The group specifically targets Parliament Hill staffers—those who work for Members of Parliament (MPs) or Senators.”

But the group is open to everyone. They often have others attending who work in the Library of Parliament and House or Senate administration, as well as civil servants, lawyers, bankers, and investment brokers working nearby.

The group is strictly non-partisan, with member representatives from almost all political parties.

“If an MP or Senator wants to come, they’re more than welcome,” says Docksteader, “but they have their own prayer fellowship on Wednesday mornings.”

Docksteader adds that occasionally MPs do attend. However, when you have staffers and their bosses present in the same room, it changes the dynamic.

The group, which varies weekly from 15 to 25 people, meets every Friday from noon to 1 p.m.

“Gail and another person (Diane Scharf) bring a light lunch for everyone—salad, finger food, and sandwiches,” says Docksteader. “They provide all the food. It’s an incredible ministry! That way no one has to take precious time to go line up somewhere and buy a lunch. Instead, they just come to the group, and start eating and talking. That’s how we spend the first 15 minutes. Sharing together.”

Every week they have a speaker who brings an encouraging message based on solid biblical teaching. Topics range over anything from how to hear God’s voice and understanding His will for your life, to personal testimonies. The variety is important.

“Edification, exhortation, or comfort: almost all speakers touch on one of these topics,” Docksteader says. “Last summer we had a series on prayer. Sometimes we hear messages from various ministry groups and our speakers, too, represent a great spectrum. We’ve had Roman Catholic priests, Anglican priests, Pentecostal pastors. We’re very ecumenical and Christ-centred.”

Sometimes the group just enjoys fellowship time, like a formal dinner, to knit members tighter together. One year they reserved tables in the Parliamentary Dining Room—a exclusive five-star restaurant on Parliament Hill.

Do members face any restrictions when meeting on Parliament Hill?

“We really don’t,” says Docksteader. “We meet in a room in the East Block. It’s a room set aside for people of any religion to meet and meditate. The only requirement is to be respectful of all religions, and that’s easy and natural. Canadian Christians enjoy great religious liberty and that’s no different on the Hill. It’s great. We’re so lucky.

“It’s important for Christians to be involved in the public square. We’re here to be salt and light in the world, wherever we live and work. That’s what we’re doing it on Parliament Hill.”