Faith-Based Organizations, Charitable Choice, And Government

• Author: Patricia A. Wilson
• DOI: 10.1177/0095399702250343
• Published date: 01 March 2003
• Date: 01 March 2003
• Subject Matter: Articles

10.1177/0095399702250343ARTICLEADMINISTRATION & SOCIETY / March 2003Wilson / FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS

FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS,

CHARITABLE CHOICE, AND

GOVERNMENT

PATRICIA A. WILSON

San Diego State University

This article discusses the positive and negativeaspects of “charitable choice.”Although the

author challenges the validity of the “separation of Church and State” argument against

charitable choice,perhaps the most popular argument against this concept is that it violates

the separation of Church and State principles. On the other hand, the greatestvalue of the

charitablechoice concept is its inclusion of diversity and the resulting governmental respon-

siveness because of such diversity. The American public is becoming morediverse, and in

turn, social issues concerning various communities are becoming morecomplex. In such an

environment, a rich variety of inputs fromdiverse groups should be encouraged by public

agencies. No one single entity (not government, education, or business)can solve all society

problemsalone. The WHOLE community—faith-based organizations, education, and public

and private agencies, together— must all play a rolein finding solutions and committing to

action.

Keywords: faith-based initiative; community organizing; church and government

partnerships

The American public is becoming more diverse,and in turn, social issues

concerning various communities are becoming more complex. In such an

environment, a rich variety of inputs from diverse groups should be

encouraged by public agencies. No one, single entity (not government,

education, or business) can solveall society problems alone. The WHOLE

community—faith-based organizations, education, public and private

agencies, together—must all play a role in finding solutions and commit-

ting to action.

President Bush’s advocacy for the “charitable choice” concept

addresses partnerships between faith-based and governmental organiza-

tions. This article, first, defines and describes faith-based initiatives and

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ADMINISTRATION & SOCIETY, Vol. 35 No. 1, March 2003 29-51

DOI: 10.1177/0095399702250343

© 2003 Sage Publications

charitable choice, and gives a brief historical perspective of these con-

cepts. Following the definition and background information is a discus-

sion of the possible opportunities for faith-based and government partner-

ships that would be greatly enhanced by the Charitable Choice concept.

The next section presents the negative considerations associated with the

charitable choice concept. Examples of two government innovations that

have successfully implemented such partnerships are then presented. The

final section presents a participatory action research model, which dem-

onstrates how faith-based organizations/programs in partnership with

governmental organizations can help with the delivery of services and

taxes, as well as with other solutions to major problems in the society.

FAITH-BASED INITIATIVES AND CHARITABLE CHOICE

Soon after President Bush took office in January 2001, he launched a

major drive to provide public funds for churches and other religious min-

istries that provide social assistance for Americans in need. When there

was evidence of social needs in America, Bush wanted his administration

to look first to faith-based programs and community groups, which have

proven their power to save and change lives. He did not simply want the

government to fund the religious activities of anygroup, but when people

of faith provided social services, the government would not discriminate

against them in its competitive distribution of tax dollars. Bush’s faith-

based initiatives represent a central principle that would define his

approach to domestic policy.

In an effort to implement his approximately $8 to $10 billion plan,

Bush created church-state partnerships with a series of policy directives

starting with two executive orders. First, he established the Office of

Faith-Based and Community Initiativesand directed its staff to coordinate

a national effort to expandopportunities for faith-based and other commu-

nity organizations. The second order removed those “bureaucratic barri-

ers” that served as safeguards for old separation of church and state rules,

and regulated public funds for religious groups in the past. President Bush

also established faith-based “centers” in five cabinet-level federal agen-

cies to assist with the work in the White House faith-based office.The five

centers were the Departments of Justice, Housing and Urban Develop-

ment, Health and Human Services, Labor, and Education. Under the plan,

financial assistance would be provided to fund faith-based services in the

30 ADMINISTRATION & SOCIETY / March 2003