The Rev. Harvey Peters, center, from Bethlehem Township, Pa., gave the prayer Tuesday morning before the House of Representatives in Washington, D.C. He was the guest of his son, Scott, far left, who represents the Sand Diego area in Congress. To the left of Harvey Peters is his wife, RuthAnn, and to his right is family friend Jo Hinkel, and at the far right is the Rev. Patrick Conroy, chaplain of the House.

Retired minister Harvey Peters, who lives in Bethlehem Township, Pa., gave the morning prayer Tuesday in the U.S. House of Representatives, according to a news release from his son, Scott Peters, a Democrat who represents the San Diego area in Congress.

In a prayer that lasted a little more than a minute, Harvey Peters, 79, who is retired from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, cautioned members of the House against "delusion."

“My dad, Harvey Peters, is a longtime advocate for civil rights and the poor, a community leader, and a dedicated husband, father, and grandfather,” Scott Peters said in the news release. “His work instilled in me and my three sisters the values of courage and equality that I’ve tried to bring to my own service.

“Few members of Congress get the chance to see a parent speak in the House chamber, and I am truly thankful that I was able to share this moment with him, and with my mom, RuthAnn, who watched from the gallery.”

Harvey Peters couldn't immediately be reached this morning.

He has served in Michigan, New Jersey, New Mexico, Wisconsin, and California in a career that spanned nearly 40 years and was an urban ministries specialist for the former Lutheran Church in America, the news release said. He remains on the clergy roster of the New Jersey Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the news release said.

Earlier in this career, Harvey Peters led the fight to desegregate housing in the Detroit suburbs, the news release said.