Faith-based groups will get boost
JEFFERSON CITY – Faith-based organizations will no longer get the runaround when they approach state agencies for names of people in need of the ministries they offer.
The Missouri Legislature passed Senate Bill 46 on May 1 when the House of Representatives voted 122-27 to send the measure to the desk of Gov. Matt Blunt, where it is expected to be signed. The bill calls for the Department of Social Services (DSS) to designate employees in each of its regions to serve as liaisons with faith-based organizations. Sen. Rob Mayer, R-Dexter and a member of First Baptist Church in Dexter, is the sponsor.
Known as the “Faith-Based Organization Liaison Act,” the bill seeks to insure more open communication and involvement between the state agency and churches or other faith-based groups.
Kerry Messer, lobbyist for the Missouri Baptist Convention’s Christian Life Commission, said the law is needed.
“I believe it’s good because of current practices within Missouri’s bureaucracies,” Messer said.
“There seems to be a willingness to assist politically-correct ministries in accessing government contracts. Yet when churches simply want to connect to people in need—including children who have physical, mental, or emotional needs—but don’t want to entangle themselves in receiving government monies, those churches are oftentimes given a different reception. Many times they find it difficult to get clear instructions on how to access opportunities to meet people’s needs.”
Under SB 46, the DSS liaison will provide clear guidance to faith-based organizations of their rights and responsibilities under federal law and will not discriminate against them.
Messer said the new law will allow the identification of any state employee who would give one set of instructions to one ministry and discouraging information to another.
“This legislation will help us hold state employees accountable to better guarantee that they will guide churches the same and equally, whether they’re politically correct or not,” Messer said.
“We only this spring discovered a state employee was hiding the fact that contracts in the Springfield area were being funneled to Planned Parenthood. Once that offense was uncovered, that employee was fired and the contracts were redirected to legitimate health care providers.
“SB 46 will stop any shuffling games where different employees instruct different ministries with varying information. It will help us hold the state accountable for its treatment of faith-based organizations.
“This legislation will say, ‘The buck stops on this guy’s desk.’”