Ralph Drollinger - Capitol Ministries

Capitol Ministries

In 1997, Drollinger founded Capitol Ministries, an evangelistic organization that provides Bible studies to political leaders. By the year 2009 Drollinger had built ministries in over one half of the US State Capitols. Following a controversial 2009 split, Drollinger's Capitol Ministries now operates in eight states and the United States Capitol in Washington, DC. He leads what is referred to internally as The Members Bible Study with 55 congressional sponsors and has been referred to as the Tea Party Chaplain.

In 2004, Drollinger's teachings caused controversy in Sacramento, capital of California. When Drollinger called Roman Catholicism a "false religion" due to what he perceived as its non-reformed theology, his Bible study groups had to move out of the governor's offices and into committee conference rooms. Drollinger later argued that his statements were taken out of context. When one of his Bible lessons said it was a sin for female legislators to leave children at home for four days a week to work in Sacramento for eight months a year, about a dozen senators, male and female, protested on the floor of the Senate.

In 2009 Drollinger's home church, Grace Community Church in California, investigated accusations that Drollinger engaged in "unchristian behavior" including "pride" and "bullying" of Capitol Ministries headquarter staff. The church subsequently deemed him unqualified for spiritual leadership and disassociated with him. This action resulted in 16 of the 22 Capitol Ministries chapters breaking away to form a new organization without Drollinger called Capitol Commission. Subsequently Drollinger said the statement was a premeditated ruse in an attempted coup. Afterwards Capitol Commission sued Capitol Ministries, accusing the group of cybersquatting and using their name in websites. In response, Capitol Ministries filed a countersuit that accuses Capitol Commission, the church and select former staff and board members of having illegally accessed their emails, interference with donors, trademark and trade dress infringement and unfair and deceptive business practices. The case is set for trial by jury in the US District Court of North Carolina in the spring of 2013.

In 2012 Capitol Ministries added ministries in the state capitols of Arizona, Michigan, South Carolina and New York. In 2013 Capitol Ministries announced the addition of a new state capitol ministry in New Mexico. Drollinger continues to lead The Member's Bible Study in the United States Capitol.