The Chicago Tribune reports that while faith-based groups are barred from proselytizing or engaging in other obvious religious activity when using federal funds, some are accused of doing just that in their programs to encourage teenagers to abstain from premarital sex or help substance abusers fight addictions.

Lawsuits by the American Civil Liberties Union, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, and the Freedom from Religion Foundation accuse the faith-based organizations and the government of violating the constitutional separation of church and state. Meanwhile, experts say
the Bush administration is doing too little to monitor religious groups receiving federal money.

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Presbyterian GA Policies

The Presbyterian Washington Office provides a helpful summary of policy statements previously adopted by PC(USA) General Assemblies:

Charitable Choice/Faith Based Initiatives

The 1988 General Assembly "has recognized for many years that, apart from question of constitutionality, the church faces serious issues related to its own liberty of faith and action when it receives government funds.

The 1969 General Assembly noted the distinction between "church-controlled" and "church-related" and urged that "temporary or permanent community agencies qualified to receive public funds be established at church initiative to maintain such programs;" and, "if church control was temporarily necessary for start up or experimental programs, that any permanent program resulting...be removed from church control and put under the control of independent community-based bodies." Holding that "in the conduct of social services church agencies should accept necessary and proper governmental regulation and supervision..." (Minutes, 1988, p. 559).

Also, General Assembly policy has consistently and clearly stated that government has the primary responsibility for caring for the poor, along with the private sector: The 1997 General
Assembly stated (and the 1999 General Assembly reaffirmed), "that while the church, voluntary
organizations, business, and government must work cooperatively to address the needs of poor persons and communities, the government must assume the primary role for providing direct assistance for the poor" (Minutes, 1997, p. 553).

The General Assembly has noted that the private sector is incapable of caring for the needy on its own.

The 1996 General Assembly asserted that "churches and charities, including many Presbyterian congregations and related organizations, have responded generously to growing hunger but do not have the capacity to replace public programs" (Minutes, 1996, p. 784).


Rev. Elenora Giddings Ivory
Director, Washington Office
Presbyterian Church (USA)
202-543-1126 202-543-7755 (fax)
100 Maryland Avenue, N.E., Suite 410
Washington, DC 20002
eivory@ctr.pcusa.org