Meet the Harrisburg pastor bringing ‘church' to ‘state'
The Rev. Ron Zeigler has a proposition for Pennsylvania lawmakers: Take a minute from your busy day, sit with him and let him pray for you.
Amid the busyness of the Pennsylvania Capitol as the legislature scrambles to pass the state budget on time, Zeigler frequents the East Wing cafeteria with a sign that invites all who pass by to sit down and talk with him.
The reverend possesses a unique title — state Capitol minister — in which he provides pastoral services to Capitol denizens — lawmakers, civil servants, staff and just about anyone working in the building. By providing a 'political free zone' to talk with him, Zeigler says he's able to connect with state employees and lawmakers across the political spectrum.
'I tell folks if I'm a lobbyist of any kind, it's for Jesus Christ,' he said. 'What's most important to me is not the Republican or Democrat agenda, but the kingdom of Christ.'
An ordained minister of the Presbyterian Church in America, Zeigler has worked full time in the Capitol since March 2024 with the goal of providing religious and spiritual guidance through 'prayer, discipleship and evangelism.'
He works for Ministry to State, a Washington, D.C.-based Presbyterian ministry that reaches 10 state capitals and Washington, entirely funded by donations.
Founder Chuck Garriott was inspired to create the organization after tragedy shook the nation. He was a pastor in Oklahoma City in 1995 when a powerful truck bomb detonated outside the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, killing 167, including 19 children, and injuring more than 600 others.
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'In the aftermath of this tragedy, Chuck and the elders at [their church] recognized a profound reality: Those serving in government face unique spiritual and personal challenges, and the church is uniquely positioned to offer them the care and support they need,' according to the organization's website.
'Motivated by this conviction, [they] began a ministry to the Oklahoma state capital, hosting a weekly luncheon Bible study that soon grew to more than 80 regular attendees,' the site says.
In 2003, Garriott moved to Washington to establish Ministry to State, with the goal of replicating its Oklahoma City ministry in state capitals around the country. It maintains its position as a nonpartisan source of spiritual guidance for civil servants and elected officials.
Steve Bostrom, the minister in Montana's Capitol, got involved after moving to Helena from North Carolina to start a church. Soon after, he began ministering to state legislators, leading to his full-time Ministry to State position.
Bostrom sees precedent for Ministry to State's mission in the Bible, pointing to the missionary work of the apostle Paul, who, 'in his travels went to many capitals.'
'He was strategic, trying to reach leadership,' he said.
Zeigler, a former public school teacher turned clergyman, said he was initially intimidated when Ministry to State's associate director for state capitols, Thomas Eddy, offered him the Harrisburg ministry
'I'm just a regular guy. I pastor small churches, and not that many people know me outside of my smaller circles,' Zeigler said. 'These are some significant people that work here in many ways. So I was a bit intimidated.'
Zeigler initially told Eddy he didn't think he was the right fit, but '[Eddy] was really convinced that this ministry was for me,' he said.
He told Eddy that 'the main gift God has given me is that I see people.' Eddy replied with a question: What is a group of people in American culture 'most people would rather not see and don't think well of?' Eddy's answer: civil government leaders.
'You're exactly the kind of person we need here,' Eddy told him.
In his role, Zeigler makes himself available for discussion or prayer with 'anyone who could use someone,' with the goal of building personal, long-lasting connections.
'I'm here to see people not get eaten up by working here, it's a challenging place to be,' he said. 'I pray that they are able to stay faithful to their oath of office and just encourage them.'
From 'long theological conversations' to simply listening to people talk about what troubles them, he said his conversations can vary wildly in topic.
'If there's anything I can do, I can pray, and I can just be available. And that's where this got started,' he said.
During one particularly busy session day in the Capitol, Zeigler greeted a custodian in the hallway: 'I just said, 'Hello, how you doing?' She said, 'I'm feeling pretty sick, but today, it's all hands on deck.'
He asked if he could pray with her. She agreed.
'I prayed that she'd be able to get through the day and that maybe once things settle down, that she might be able to get off early,' he said. 'When I was done, she was in tears, and she reached over and just gave me a big hug.'
As an ordained minister, Zeigler holds his conversations in confidence, which he compared to the confidentiality of a priest or lawyer.
'The most rewarding parts of my ministry at the Capitol are talking with people about what it's important to them, and praying with them and for them,' Zeigler said. 'Simply caring for them as people is very rewarding.'
Although Zeigler is Presbyterian, he works to connect with people of different religious beliefs. He says he is not present in Harrisburg to convert, but to minister, although he is not shy to preach when it's asked for.
'I'm here as a Christian minister, but I'm not pressing on anybody,' he said. 'I make sure it's clear that I'm here to talk about what's important to you. If you want to hear what I think about something I'm glad to tell you, and I'm glad to talk, but I will never press and say 'you got to believe what I believe.''
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