"Why Obama Seized the Faith-Based Mantle"

In this weeks USA today, the ever observant Amy Sullivan writes about Presidential Candidate, Barrack Obama's plan for Faith-Based initiatives. (It should be noted that I advised the Obama campaign along with many others prior to the release of the plan)

Amy notes in her editorial that "It's fair to say Democrats were expecting a presidential nominee who would vow to overturn the faith-based initiative once he reached the White House, not one who doubled down on the program." --- I agree and we faced similar sentiments in Ohio, when Governor Strickland took office and inherited a statutory and mis-managed Faith-Based Office. Some were not quite sure what to do with it while others would have privately liked to have seen it done away with had it not been a statutory office. It is refreshing to see that the Obama team has a plan viewed through fresh eyes to put into place for Faith-Based initiatives from day one.

As Amy notes there is reason for Obama to embrace the initiatives rather than do away with them. "For one, by embracing the idea of partnerships between government and faith-based institutions, Obama isn't moving to the right so much as reclaiming an issue Democrats used to support. For decades, religiously affiliated organizations like Lutheran Social Services and United Jewish Communities received, without a hint of controversy, government funds to provide social services." ----- What is often lost though is the purpose of Faith-Based initiatives. That is to build capacity for small Faith-Based organization to apply and compete for Federal Funding. The big organizations have grant writers and the staff needed to go after this money. More often than not, the only organizations that will serve the least among us and provide services in poverty stricken neighborhoods are small Churches and faith based organizations. These services are certainly enhanced and improved with the proper funding.

The common misconception of Faith-Based initiatives, especially among Democrats is that there is a big pot of money for Churches and that they can use it to build Churches and buy bibles, a clear separation of church and state issue in their eyes. The facts are, that federal money comes with complications and strings attached to it. Faith Based initiatives sought to level the playing field. Money was made available to provide training and resources to small faith based organizations who did not have the large staffs and talented grant writers like a Catholic Charities would have.

With the Bush administration, the money was made available, but at times to only those who had the "right" kind of faith. With a fresh look from an Obama administration, we may well see the initiatives implemented in the right way, and services delivered to those truly in need of the assistance that in most cases can only be provided in a meaningful way by local faith based organizations. It also helps that Senator Obama began his career as a faith based organizer, living his faith with works.

With an Obama Faith Based initiative, we may finally see the small faith based community organization receive the training, funding and capacity they need to provide robust and long term services for those in need in their communities.

Read more of Amy's article here...