For more than 30 years, Lutheran Metropolitan Ministy has engaged in its mission of promoting shalom (peace, well-being) and justice (right relationships) through Christian ministry of service and advocacy with those who are oppressed, forgotten and hurting.

Widely recognized for its program "pillars," LMM may well be an example of the faith-based organizations President Bush has in mind with his new initiative.

LMM endorses the initiative's recognition of faith-based organizations in delivering government funded services. We also raise the following cautions to those who are appointed to the newly created White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiative who will implement the program:

1. Any expansion or revision of existing charitible choice legislation must be consistent with and uphold the Establishment Clause of the United States Constitution. LMM believes that the separation of church and state guaranteed by this clause is critical to the free exercise of religion and should not compromise the "prophetic voice" of the faith community, the church's ability to speak to the justice issues of the day.
   
2. Publicly funded faith-based programs should be encouraged to observe equal employment and affirmative action principles, despite the religious organziations exemption included in the 1964 Civil Rights Act. LMM employment policies adhere to these principles.
   
3. Discrimination against beneficiaries of programs on the basis of religion of belief must be strictly prohibited. LMM prohibits this for religious reasons consistent with its understanding of Jesus's concern for all people and for legal reasons consistent with the Establishment Clause.
   
4. Public funds ought not to be used by faith-based organizations directly or indirectly for sectarian worship, instruction or proselytizing. To allow such use would give government influence over fundamental faith activities, which would be inconsistent with the Establishment Clause.
   
5. LMM undergoes an annual audit to assure the proper use of taxpayers money. All organizations receiving federal fudning must be accountable for the funds they receive but should not be overburdened by bureaucratic rules that defeat the effectiveness of the organization's efforts to provide services. We encourage involvement of small, accountable faith-based groups in the president's initiative.

LMM welcomes an increase in funding to competent, committed and responsible faith-based organizations and appreciates the president's acknowledgement of the special value that such organizations add. However, we emphatically oppose the president's initiative if funding to these organizations is expected to:

1. Diminish the government's responsibility for the public good, e.g. providing for historically agreed upon basic needs and protections for our citizens.
   
2. Replace the work currently provided by secular chartible institutions and government agencies, many of whom effectively partner with faith-based groups, or
   
3. Fill the financial void created by proposed tax cuts

Lastly, LMM is available as a resource to share its experience in delivering a wide variety of social services while maintaing its faith-base and without impinginf on the separation of church and state.

Adapted by the Trustees of Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry, Cleveland, Ohio on April 30, 2001.