An update from the Roundtable on Religion and Social Welfare Policy, an independent research project
of the Rockefeller Institute of Government. The public policy research arm of the State University of New York.

NEW! Congregations Provide Myriad Services, Without Government Aid

While a majority of American congregations - almost 70 percent - is providing social services, a slim
minority - just 7.1 percent - is doing so with the government’s dime. Congregations’ low level of government
contracting, however, does not appear to be due to a philosophical or theological opposition to partnering
with state or federal agencies. Instead, most congregations are not competing for government funds for
more practical reasons - they don’t have enough staff or space to take on more work, they fear external
control, or they simply don’t know that they are eligible for such contracts. Those are some key findings of
a new survey, "American Congregations and Social Service Programs" released by the Roundtable and
presented by author John Green, political scientist from the University at Akron.

Click here to read more by Roundtable Correspondent Claire Hughes.

Scroll down for more information released from the Roundtable’s conference, including a transcript of
Professor Green’s presentation.

Legal Update! Analysis of Landmark Decision on Faith-Based Prison Program

In a case that has been closely followed by supporters and critics of faith-based prison programs, a
panel of the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals on December 3 affirmed a lower court ruling that a Prison
Fellowship Ministries’ operation in Iowa was unconstitutional. Importantly, however, the appeals court
panel reversed the district court’s order that Prison Fellowship repay the state of Iowa $1.5 million for
services already rendered but deemed later to have violated the Constitution.

The 8th Circuit’s interpretation of the legal issues in the case will likely serve as the guidepost for future
decisions regarding faith-based prison programs, say the Roundtable’s co-directors of legal research, Ira
C. Lupu and Robert W. Tuttle. Those issues include: who has the right to sue in such cases; when
nongovernmental organizations will be subject to restrictions as "state actors" because they are operating
under "color of law" even if funded privately; and when a program is correctly considered a recipient of
indirect government aid, which gives it more latitude in offering religious content than one receiving direct
taxpayer grants.

Click here to read the analysis by Law Professors Ira C. Lupu and Robert W. Tuttle.

Click here for the Roundtable’s Resource Page on Faith-Based Prison Programs, which includes previous
legal analyses, articles and interviews about the case.

Click here for the appeals court’s decision.

NEW! Roundtable Conference Offers Latest on Faith-Based Services and the Law

"Acts of Faith: Congregations and Social Services," the Roundtable’s 2007 annual conference, featured
John Green’s new survey of congregations and Chip Lupu and Bob Tuttle’s insightful analysis of the most
significant legal developments of the year affecting partnerships between government and religious charities.

Here we provide links to conference materials, including reports released, stories on each presentation,
and transcripts.

Acts of Law

2007 has been a year of considerable legal activity on issues affecting faith-based and community initiatives,
highlighted by the Supreme Court's June decision in Hein v. Freedom From Religion Foundation. That
decision held that taxpayers may not mount legal challenges against the federal government over support
to religious organizations unless Congress has specifically authorized the programs that provide the money,
and the ruling has numerous and complex implications for government partnerships with religious groups.
In addition, the courts this year have been the stage for arguments over faith-based prison programs,
government chaplaincies, legislative earmarks to religious groups, and the use of tax money to renovate
religious structures, along with a variety of other issues. In this session, the Roundtable’s co-directors of legal
research, Ira C. Lupu and Robert W. Tuttle, navigated the changes in the legal landscape.

• Click here for a news story, "Ruling Limiting Lawsuits Leads an Onslaught of Church-State Decisions"
  by Roundtable Washington Correspondent Anne Farris.
   
• Click here for Chip Lupu and Bob Tuttle’s 2007 State of the Law report.
   
• Click here for a transcript of this session.

Acts of Service

In this session, political scientist John Green of the University of Akron and the Pew Forum on Religion
and Public Life presented the results of a new survey highlighting the social service work of congregations.
The results, he said, reveal that while a majority of American congregations is providing social services, a
slim minority is doing so with government grants. Congregations’ low level of government contracting,
however, does not appear to be due to a philosophical or theological opposition to partnering with state or
federal agencies.

• Click here for a news story (also featured above), "Congregations Provide Myriad Services,
  Without Government Aid" by Roundtable Correspondent Claire Hughes.
  
  
• Click here for the report, "American Congregations and Social Service Programs."
  
  
• Click here for the session transcript.
  
  
• Click here for Professor Green’s PowerPoint presentation, which includes data referenced in the transcript.
   

Weekly Digest of Federal Grants with Faith-Based and Community
Organization Eligibility

The grant opportunities this week for community and faith-based organizations are through programs
administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Department of Justice,
and the United States Agency for International Development.

Potential applicants should be aware that some grant programs require specific technical expertise, or experience with particular foreign countries.

Click here for the grant digest.

Roundtable Digest of Current Faith-Based News Stories

Few congregations seek U.S. grants
Chicago Tribune

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7401

Study: Only 7 percent of churches sought government grants
Religion News Service

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7402

Truancy a high priority for area
St. Petersburg Times (Florida)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7429

A month after, Kimball tallies storm's cost
Chattanooga Times and Free Press (Tennessee)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7404

Continuing-care beat goes on and on; Sisters of Mercy project to blend in with neighborhood
Chicago Tribune

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7405

Chapel groundbreaking sends spirits soaring
Times-Picayune (New Orleans)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7406

Housing for volunteers planned at Aldersgate; 5,000-square-foot facility to be built
Times-Picayune (New Orleans)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7407

A vision realized: Jubilee House prepares to open doors to women trying to kick the drug habit
Times-News (Twin Falls, Idaho)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7408

Midland church helping South Side recovery
The Associated Press State & Local Wire

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7409

Organizations seek more of the selfless; Transport a cancer patient, mentor a child or aid Habitat
The News-Press (Fort Myers, Florida)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7410

Group warms days of the homeless
Green Bay Press-Gazette (Wisconsin)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7411

Groups receive grants Foundation gives $373,000 to help 32 organizations
The Augusta Chronicle (Georgia)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7412

Habitat has happy holiday; Two families get new homes
The Post and Courier (Charleston, SC)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7413

Grants available for supper food programs
The News-Messenger (Fremont, Ohio)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7415

Religion can help city, mayor says; Pawlowski announces creation of Office of Faith-Based Initiatives.
Morning Call (Allentown, Pennsylvania)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7403

Phoenix Center open
San Bernardino County Sun (California)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7416

Activist plans halfway house for women
The Myrtle Beach Sun-News (South Carolina)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7419

Remedy for success National honor for health program underscores gains in care.
Omaha World-Herald (Nebraska)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7414

A new approach to helping the homeless; Three area agencies unveil drop-in center
Intelligencer Journal (Lancaster, Pennsylvania)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7420

Churches join the crusade to bolster schools
The Kansas City Star

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7421

Lorenzo Sierra Appointed to Governor's Commission on Service and Volunteerism
Business Wire

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7417

Court says public cannot pay for Christian prison program
Des Moines Register (Iowa)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7418

Poverty circles help Iowans to middle class
The Gazette (Cedar Rapids, Iowa)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7422

Abuse recovery services funded
Clovis News Journal (New Mexico)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=7423

Weekly Opinion Roundup - 12/11/2007
The Roundtable on Religion and Social Welfare Policy

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/news_opinion_12_11_07.cfm