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! Religious Groups Push Farm Policy Reforms to Combat Poverty

Congress this week takes on a task it faces every five years: rewriting the nation’s
Farm Bill – a hefty and always politically sensitive law that covers almost every
imaginable policy on agriculture, land use and feeding programs in America. Among
the varied groups of competing interests over the bill are interdenominational religious
organizations that have entered the scene with a strong and savvy show of organizing,
coalescing and lobbying. They are drawing connections between farm policies and the
larger issues of poverty and nutrition.

The religious groups’ value-based mission falls into the broad category of eliminating
poverty worldwide. In practical terms, they believe that goal can be forwarded by making
subsidies available to smaller farmers, increasing the eligibility and numbers of people
receiving food stamps, increasing investments to combat rural poverty, and expanding
international food aid. Faith-based reformers also want stronger emphasis on land conservation.

In pushing for such reforms, the religious groups are at times at odds with agricultural
lobbies who advocate that Congress maintain what they refer to as a financial “safety
net” for farmers in years of reduced production and low market prices. The American
Farm Bureau Federation, for instance, has called for maintaining the funding balance
in the existing law, passed in 2002.

Click here to read more by Roundtable Washington Correspondent Anne Farris.

New! An Interview with Jim French of Oxfam America on the Farm Bill

Jim French serves as the lead organizer for the Agriculture Campaign for Oxfam
America. He works out of his home in Reno County, Kansas where he and his wife,
Lisa, still manage a farm homesteaded by his great-great grandfather in 1872. In his
position with Oxfam America, French advocates for agricultural policies that the group
believes would benefit rural communities and farmers both in the United States and in
developing nations.

Since the beginning of the year, French has been visiting churches and working with
religious groups to promote reforms to the U.S. system of subsidizing certain crops under
the Farm Bill. Oxfam America, which is supporting a coalition of faith-based organizations
called the Religious Working Group on the Farm Bill, has proposed changes to the law
that would reduce funding for certain crop subsidies, increase funding for conservation
programs, and increase funding for rural development and nutrition programs.

Click here to read the interview.

New! Congress Considers Program Funding of Interest to Faith-Based Groups

After taking a break last week from considering a round of fiscal year 2008 appropriation
bills, the U.S. House of Representatives Tuesday (July 17) began debate on one of the
largest and most difficult spending bills – for the U.S. Departments of Health and Human
Services, Labor and Education. Within the federal budget, the $607 billion bill includes
the largest amount of funding for programs and grants available to faith-based and
community organizations to provide human services.

Also this week, the House on Monday passed two bills, both sponsored by Rep. Ruben
Hinojosa (D-TX), to provide grants, loans and assistance to local agencies and faith-based
and community groups who spearhead housing and economic development projects in
rural areas.

Click here for more by Roundtable Washington Correspondent Anne Farris.

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, the Corporation for National and Community Service, and
the U.S. 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, compiled by Roundtable Correspondent Allison Sarnoff
with Lisa Montiel.

Roundtable Digest of Current Faith-Based News Stories

Habitat groups struggle with land crunch
The Arizona Republic (Arizona)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6761

Rental rebuilding cuts draw protest; Coalition wants state to restore financing
New Orleans Times-Picayune (Louisiana)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6758

Huckabee shows faith-based action can be nonconfrontational
The Daily Dispatch (Arizona)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6759

Faith conservatives cheered by high court rulings
Religion News Service

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6771

Religious Groups Work to Translate Sex-Education Message;
Program Designed for Black Teens Evolves to Incorporate Language and Culture of Latinos
The Washington Post (Washington, DC)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6762

Children's lives being saved by church's efforts
Troy Record (New York)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6763

Social Consciousness in the Black Church
National Public Radio (NPR), SHOW: News & Notes

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6764

Hope comes to Church Street: Habitat for Humanity brings
change to troubled Church Street neighborhood
Delmarva Daily Times (Maryland)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6765

Parolee gets back on track: Richmond native is trying to transition to
life outside prison after a misstep led to another stint last year
Contra Costa Times (California)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6766

Ministry sponsors day for homeless: Operation Homeless
Connect brings services and information to a single location
Orlando Sentinel (Florida)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6767

Churches reach hearts, not just souls
The Jackson Sun (Tennessee)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6768

Former counselor helps prisoners find jobs
Independent Tribune (North Carolina)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6769

Exodus Homes to take part in roundtable
Smith will represent ministry at gathering in D.C. on homelessness
Charlotte Observer

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6743

GangWatchers keeps an eye out
Visalia Times-Delta (California)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6770

Faith talk is derided: Advocate for separation of church, state says both parties pandering
The Dallas Morning News (Texas)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6760

Blunt Enacts Law to Create New Partnerships With
Faith-Based Organizations For Missourians In Need
States News Service

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6775

Just do it! Groups angry as Deval axes abstinence cash
Boston Herald (Massachusetts)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6745

Religious Visa Workers Fear Program Overhaul: Some Groups
Critical of Proposed Regulations Intended to Reduce Fraud
Washington Post (Washington, DC)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6746

Group that targets AIDS in black churches expands focus
USA Today

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6749

Communities of Faith: Ministry provides help with job search
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Georgia)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6750

Garden helps those in need grow fresh start, fund program
The Enid News and Eagle (Oklahoma)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6751

Rescue Mission facing tough times
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner (Alaska)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6752

Dozens take steps to move on;
Akron man gets help of ex-officer, is among 136 who turn selves in
Akron Beacon Journal (Ohio)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6753

First Amendment issues peppered Edwards' Senate career
First Amendment Center (Tennessee)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6747

Council questions budget increases
Chattanooga Times Free Press (Tennessee)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6748

Sowers of Seeds spreads message about addiction
The Herald Bulletin (Indiana)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6754

The Supreme 5: Only Congress can be sued, not White House
The Terre Haute Tribune-Star (Indiana)

http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=6755

Weekly Opinion Roundup - 7/17/2007
The Roundtable on Religion and Social Welfare Policy

The Roundtable on Religion and Social Welfare Policy promotes informed debate on the issue of publicly funded faith-based social service. Supported by The Pew Charitable Trusts, the Roundtable provides independent, non-partisan research on the scope and scale of faith-based social services, their effectiveness, how public resources are being used in providing such services, and the legal and regulatory issues involved. The Roundtable's comprehensive web site makes this research and related information easily available. It can be accessed by clicking here:

The Roundtable
411 State Street
Albany, New York 12203 518-443-5014

To be removed from the weekly Roundtable E-Newsletter, please send a message to rndtbl@rockinst.org with the word "Unsubscribe" in the subject line.

Click here to go to The Roundtable homepage.

HOMEPAGE | NEWS | EVENTS | INTERVIEWS | LEGAL | PUBLICATIONS | RESEARCH PROJECTS | LINKS

Copyright 2007
The Roundtable on Religion and Social Welfare Policy