wfn.org | Episcopal Church establishes policy on public funding of

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faith-based social services 

2001-158

Episcopal Church establishes policy on public funding of faith-based social services 

(ENS) The Executive Council of the Episcopal Church has passed a resolution 
supporting the "longstanding practice of receiving public funding for faith-based 
social services so long as such programs do not discriminate or proselytize as part 
of receiving services."

"The purpose of this resolution is to articulate the Episcopal Church's strong 
conviction on the policy of public funding of faith-based social services," said 
Presiding Bishop Frank T. Griswold. "Receiving public monies from local, state 
or federal governments is nothing new to the Episcopal Church or other faith-based 
groups for that matter.  I am pleased the questions around this issue have brought 
serving the needs of others to our public discourse."

The Executive Council's resolution and guidelines, passed June 11 in Salt Lake 
City, also called on the federal government to increase public funding for programs 
aimed at critical human needs.  The statement also requested that the government 
improve the delivery of assistance to faith-based organization by simplifying paperwork 
requirements, providing timely payment for services and appropriate technical assistance. 
 
The church supports proposals to use the tax code to create incentives for increasing 
charitable giving.  The recent tax bill signed by President George W. Bush did not 
include tax incentives to non-itemizing tax payers.  Tax incentives proposals, supported 
by almost every major faith and denomination, were dropped in the reconciliation process 
by House and Senate negotiators.  

Parishes, diocese, and Episcopal-related service providers were urged to consider 
carefully the ramifications of accepting public monies and explore separate incorporation 
for the delivery of social services with public funds.  The church also called on the 
business community to create partnerships with faith-based organizations and parishes 
as part of their social responsibilities.

While supporting the receipt of public money in some cases for social services, 
the statement also calls for secular, non-religiously affiliated programs to be 
available in the same community should proselytizing and religious discrimination 
exemptions --allowed to religious groups-- be permitted in a program as in current 
charitable choice law or in Bush's faith-based initiatives.

Tom H. Hart, director of the Episcopal Church's Office of Government Relations in 
Washington, D.C. said,  "This position balances the increasing need for social services 
with fairness and accountability in the use of public dollars."  

He added, "The church recognizes that discrimination has no place in the delivery 
of social services. The government should and certainly can expand the opportunity 
parishes and faith-organizations have to help those in need with public funds, but 
should clearly put new money behind those proposals and critical existing programs."

Public Funding of Faith-Based Social Services

As passed by the Executive Council June 11, 2000, Salt Lake City, Utah

· Resolved, that the Executive Council of the Episcopal Church, USA, meeting 
in Salt Lake City, June 8-11, 2001, support our longstanding practice of receiving 
public funding for faith-based social service programs so long as such programs:

· Do not require those seeking services to receive religious instruction, worship or 
proselytizing as part of receiving services and any such services are offered 
separately and voluntarily from government-funded activities;

· Do not discriminate against or give preference to any person applying for such 
services on the basis of religion, as well as race, national origin, sexual orientation, 
age, sex or disability; 

· Do not discriminate or give preference to any employee or applicant for 
employment on the basis of religion, as well as race, national origin, sexual 
orientation, age, sex or disability; and

· Meet professional standards of accounting and conduct consistent with programs 
similar in scope and nature; and be it further

· Resolved, that the Church urge, if any of the above elements are not retained in 
law, that a secular or non-religiously-affiliated program be available in the same 
community; and be it further

· Resolved, that the Church is encouraged by the increased focus by the government, 
the media, and public at large on assisting poor and disenfranchised people in this 
country and abroad, the recognition of the effectiveness of faith-based programs, 
and consideration of how to provide more effective and efficient social services; 
and be it further

· Resolved, that the Church strongly support increased public funding for programs 
addressing critical human needs at the local, state, and federal level through both secular 
and faith-based providers, support proposals to use the tax code to create incentives 
for increasing charitable giving, and encourage Episcopalians to be active in supporting 
such proposals through advocacy; and be it further

· Resolved, that the Church encourages the business community to create partnerships 
with faith-based organizations and parishes as a positive expression of the businesses 
support for communities across the country and abroad, and commend to corporations 
their social responsibilities; and be it further

· Resolved, that governments be encouraged to improve their delivery of assistance 
to faith-based and community service providers, including timely payment for services 
rendered, simplified paperwork requirements, and appropriate technical assistance; 
and be it further

· Resolved, that the Executive Council urge parishes, dioceses, and Episcopal-related 
service providers to consider carefully the ramifications of accepting public money and 
explore separate incorporation for the delivery of social services with public monies; 
and be it further

· Resolved, that the Church staff disseminate widely to the Church information on current 
regulations on receiving public money for social services, aspects of the current debate 
of "Faith-based Initiatives" or "Charitable Choice," and guidance and technical assistance
where appropriate to organizations within the Episcopal Church exploring the receipt of 
public money to offer or expand social services.