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This website is an archive and will no longer be updated. For continuing research and analysis of faith-based social services, turn to the
Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life.
Partnering with Faith Assessing Government Alliances with Religious Groups in Key Service Areas December 5, 2006 at the National Press Club, 529 14th Street, NW, Washington, DC. Just how well are government partnerships with religious social service providers faring in communities throughout the country? At the Roundtable's Annual Conference in Washington, D.C., we'll hear from Jay Hein, the newly appointed Director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, on the status of the federal effort and plans for its progress during the Bush Administration's final two years. We'll have expert analysis from the Roundtable's legal research directors, Ira C. Lupu and Robert W. Tuttle, on developments in the law concerning the relationship between church and state. Then four separate sessions will explore government and faith-based partnerships in service areas that have been identified as key to the federal effort. Panelists will include top government officials, faith-based social service providers, researchers and skeptics. They'll share information on current activities, program effectiveness, and the sometimes controversial issues surrounding taxpayer support for encouraging religious charities to participate in such work. Here are descriptions of our plenary sessions:
The timely topics to be addressed by law professors Chip Lupu and Bob Tuttle include religious rehabilitation programs for prisoners, the scope of government chaplaincies, and the potential constitutional problems associated with correct and incorrect uses of government capacity-building grants. They will also look at some technical issues that have arisen in several pending lawsuits, including whether the courts can order religious providers to repay the government for services rendered but thereafter deemed to be a constitutionally inappropriate use of taxpayer funds.
Saving them from Addiction? Substance abuse treatment has been among areas targeted for growth through the Bush Administration’s Faith-Based and Community Initiative. Among proposals that the President has pushed is the expansion of tax-funded vouchers that let addicts choose treatment from a variety of providers, including religious organizations. Supporters say those seeking recovery often do best with a spiritual approach, rather than one that is purely medical. Opponents question whether faith-based programs that could receive government money can verify their claims of success. This panel’s experts will offer a variety of perspectives, and try to separate the facts from the unfounded assertions.
Pre-Wedding Vows to Say No:
Faith-Based Organizations and Abstinence Education
When someone needs a job, it’s likely they need other things as well - like child care and medical services, but also encouragement and improved self-esteem. When it comes to the personal support that helps someone get a job, some - including the Bush Administration - argue that religious groups may be effective providers. Critics of the Faith-Based and Community Initiative, however, say that granting government funds to religious charities is a violation of constitutional protections separating church and state. Our panel will cover these perspectives, and offer updates on the latest information on the effectiveness of faith-based job-training programs.
Teaching with a Mission: Faith-Based Organizations and Supplemental Educational Services In communities where students have the least resources and the poorest performance, faith-based organizations are sometimes among the few groups offering after-school programs aimed at increasing their chances of success. The Bush Administration argues these faith-based providers should get government dollars to expand their supplemental educational services. And members of Congress have pushed for the right of religious groups that accept such funds to hire people of their own faith. But critics question the credentials of the faith-based organizations’ teachers, and whether public schools pay the price when tax dollars are diverted to religious providers. This panel will discuss these topics, and share the latest knowledge on the faith-based programs’ effectiveness.
Closing Reflections The conference will conclude with a review of the day’s events and a summary of findings by religion writer Adelle Banks. Banks’ beats as senior correspondent for Religion News Service include the White House, church-state issues, and religion and schools.
Join us. The conference, including the luncheon, is free, but registration is required. Click here to view the schedule at a glance.
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