Bush signs 'faith-based' order

Group, Mar/Apr 2001 by Roller, Julia

WASHINGTON, D.C.-President George W. Bush signed an executive order establishing a White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives that encourages faithbased organizations (FBOs) to compete for federal grants to help solve social problems, such as homelessness and drug addiction. "We will not fund the religious activities of any group, but when people of faith provide social services, we will not discriminate against them," says the president.

Some think FBOs are the ideal place for social programs because their spiritual character makes them more effective. "They're building intense, long-term relationships, giving hope one-on-one," says Stephen Lazarus of the Civitas Program in Faith and Public Affairs. "Hope is not really the government's strength."

Others, however, warn that this partnership blurs the constitutionally mandated separation of church and state, and they fear the consequences for churches. Accepting government funds will cause FBOs to lose some of their independence, argues Stephanie Miller of the Alexis de Tocqueville Institution. For example, a church may no longer be able to require that its staff be Christian. Further, the act may encourage secular organizations to affiliate with religions for funding purposes or cause FBOs to fight with each other over funding.

"The same divisions that have resulted in civil wars in other countries would at least prompt uncivil competition in the United States," says J. Brent Walker of the Baptist Joint Committee on Public Affairs. "When [the] government takes sides in matters of religion-favoring one denomination over another or religion or irreligion-only mischief results."

Why does the United States have the constitutional separation of church and state? What would happen if church and state were no longer separated by law?

Early Christian communities often purposely segregated themselves from society. Why do you think they did so? What should the church's relationship to the government be today? to the rest of society?

Is it ethical for churches to accept taxpayers' money for programs with an element of faith? If so, should the government be able to regulate the programs? Is human authority, such as that of the government, given by God? Why or why not? Should Christians always obey the government? Explain.

Scripture links: Luke 20:20-26; Romans 13:1-7; Titus 3:1; and 1 Peter 2:13-17 (admonitions to obey human authority). Matthew 28:16-18; Acts 5:29; and Ephesians 1:18-23, 6:12 (heavenly authority).

Julia Roller was group's summer intern. She earned her master's degree in journalism last year and is now back in school in California finishing work on a master's degree in theology.