In late January, North Carolina Governor Josh Stein Anunciado $30 million in grants to fund his state’s recovery from Hurricane Helene.
Included in that total was $6 million for two faith-based groups helping rebuild homes after the storm: $3 million for Habitat for Humanity, a housing nonprofit based on Christian principles; and $3 million for Baptists on Mission, an auxiliary of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina.
The Baptists plan to use their $3 million to buy building supplies to repair as many as 1,000 homes in the coming year, said Richard Brunson, executive director of Baptists on Mission.
Brunson told media that accepting the grants made sense. “More than half the cost of building is labor, but with volunteers providing the labor we can double or even triple the number of families that we can get back in their homes,” Brunson said in accepting the grant. He also thanked Stein for a previous state grant of $5 million for disaster relief.
But the Baptists’ decision to accept the grant comes as faith-based groups such as Church World Service, Lutheran Services in America, Catholic Charities and World Relief have been under fire for accepting federal funds for helping immigrants and refugees. President Donald Trump’s political allies have called the grants “money laundering” and “illegal,” while some of the president’s religious allies accuse charities of selling their faith out to liberals.
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The Baptist Center for Leadership, run by former Trump administration staffer William Wolfe, claimed that a ministry center run by Send Relief, a Southern Baptist ministry, violated the denomination’s official statement of faith by accepting government funds in a partnership with World Relief to assist refugees.
“The fact that Send Relief took federal grant funding from the Biden State Department, laundered through World Relief, is shocking,” the Baptist Center for Leadership claimed.
To back the claim, the center pointed to a section of the Baptist Faith & Message that opposed any taxes that would benefit churches — a reference to long-held Baptist opposition to state churches. “The church should not resort to the civil power to carry on its work,” the Baptist Faith & Message states. “The gospel of Christ contemplates spiritual means alone for the pursuit of its ends.”
The Trumpworld criticism is at odds with last week’s announcement that Paula White-Cain, a close adviser to Trump, would head the White House Faith Office, which promotes partnerships between faith groups and the government. The first such office began in the George W. Bush administration, which built on federal legislation called Charitable Choice that began to loosen restrictions on government grants to faith groups in the 1900s.
Trump’s recent executive order establishing the faith office said faith groups should be able “to compete on a level playing field for grants, contracts, programs, and other Federal funding opportunities.”
Texas pastor Bart Barber, an expert on SBC polity, said Baptists have long opposed direct government funding of churches. Early American Baptists Roger Williams and Isaac Backusclashed with government leaders over state funding to establish a church in New England, while in Virginia, Baptist leader John Leland opposed a “general assessment bill” in the 1780s that would have taxed everyone and sent the money to the church of their choice.
“They thought it would make Baptists, Methodists, everybody happy,” said Barber. Instead, Baptists sank the bill.
“They thought it would make Baptists, Methodists, everybody happy,” said Barber. Instead, Baptists sank the bill.
“We’re just not in favor of tax money being used to support ministry objectives,” said Barber.
A former SBC president, Barber said he felt so strongly about separation of church and state funding, that his church, First Baptist Church in Farmersville, Texas, did not apply for a Paycheck Protection Plan loan during the COVID-19 pandemic, which would have been used to pay the salaries of pastors. For Barber, that was out of bounds.
First Baptist did allow the local city to build a parking lot on a property the church owns. The city needed more parking, Barber said, and the church would be able to use the lot on Sundays or for special events. The difference, said Barber, is that the parking lot was a secular amenity that the church also supported, while the PPP loan represented government funding for a purely religious purpose.
Barber also said that many Baptist charities, such as children’s homes or hospitals, have received grants from the government for the work they do for the community. That, he said, is not seen as a violation of the SBC’s statement of faith or of Baptist principles.
Albert “Al” Mohler, longtime president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, said that until recently, there had been a consensus among leaders of national entities on the issue of government funds.
“When I was elected president, there was an absolute consensus among SBC leaders that SBC institutions should not take government money of any kind,” he said. “If that sentence did not end in a period, it ended in an exclamation point.”
That consensus was so strong, said Mohler, that SBC seminaries only accepted funds under the G.I. Bill because they paid for the tuition of specific individuals. Mohler said that by the same logic, Baptist colleges and universities eventually began to take government funds, like Pell grants and federal student loans.
His seminary, however, decided not to accept federal student loans, foregoing millions. Nor did the seminary take out a PPP loan. “I believe it’s a simple principle of maintaining our independence from the government and our ability to be absolutely free from government interference,” he said. Other seminaries, he added, have made their peace with taking the loans.
When it comes to other charitable work, such as health care or disaster relief, government funding and oversight are difficult to avoid, but Mohler said such payments don’t compare to theological education or pastors’ salaries.
He also believes the Baptist Faith and Message assumes a strict line between the church and the government. “It definitely wants the church to be free from the interference of the state and Southern Baptist institutions, to follow the very same … principles,” he said. “I have colleagues who hold different positions, but, you know, they’re the ones who moved.”
The Baptist Center for Leadership did not respond to a question of whether it objects to Baptists accepting funding like PPP loans. The SBC Executive Committee, which governs the denomination day to day, did not respond to a question of whether accepting government grants violated the Baptist Faith & Message. The Executive Committee, like a number of SBC state conventions, institutions, and churches, did take a PPP loan.
Bob Smietana es reportero nacional de Religion News Service.
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16 Responses
Right… of course….if you are not just like us…. then we oppress you….
Might as well get the religious wars started ….. worked out so well during pre-Modern Europe…..
vs Jesus “if they speak in My Name….”
Bob Smietana, Why do you keep using the terms “immigrants and refugees” when you know that these people are actually illegal aliens? The groups you mention using the highly-biased term “demonize” are being criticized by the administration because they are using their money to support people who are in the country ILLEGALLY. In actuality, what you are saying is that you think it is perfectly acceptable to allow these people to stay in the country when they entered the country illegally, and keep allowing them to break the law every single day they remain here. I think the victims of the hurrican on the East cost need the help more, but evidently, you do not.
Mr. Cremer, well said.
I thought the exact same thing while reading this article. There is a difference in using tax payer dollars for rebuilding homes of legal citizens affected by disaster and using tax payers dollars to harbor those in our country illegally.
First, “refugees” are not “illegal aliens.” In the legal systems surrounding immigration, if a person is classed as a refugee, they have already been vetted for security and approved to enter the United States on an immigrant visa. The organizations in question were assisting with the refugee resettlement program, which the government pays for the first 90 days the legal refugees are in the country.
There are also immigrants who, while not yet permanent legal residents, did present themselves to an immigration agent and say they were seeking asylum. They are provisionally admitted to the country pending a hearing on their asylum claim. These individuals/families have to check in regularly with the nearest ICE office, but are given temporary work permits while awaiting a ruling on their claim. These immigrants are not “illegal aliens” as you state.
You should really educate yourself more about the laws regarding immigration before pontificating.
I would frame the question “is taking government money wise for churches and ministries.” Given the fickle nature of shifting politics, it is certainly unwise to become dependent on government money. Whether or not particular circumstances merit it or not shouldn’t be too rigid though. We could end up withholding help to those who otherwise would be receiving it. People shouldn’t be harmed by our ideals.
Your newsletter today used this headline for the link to this article, “As Trump Officials Demonize Faith-Based Partners, Government Grants are Called Heresy”, which was a terrible headline for this mostly reasonable article.
Please stop using incendiary, unsupported headlines in your newsletter.
I agree the original headline was inflammatory. That’s why I changed it, but I apologize for not catching it earlier.
May we remember today young Joseph in Egypt, sold by his brothers, and his father who believed for nearly 23 years that his son Joseph had been ravaged and killed by a wild animal. This man remained true to his Creator and Father YHWH though working submissively and honourably with Pharaoh and Potiphar but did not give in to immorality and lawlessness (even when wrongly imprisoned). For this, he was able to assist in saving Yasharal during famine and he was able then to forgive his brothers and to see the Hand of YHWH bring 70 people from the Land down into Egypt (the other 11 tribes and families) – including his beloved father Jacob. The Kingdom of LIGHT will always cut as laser through the political and spiritual intrigue of darkness and make a path through the sea of humanity and of water – and His remnant the Redeemed will never drown in the waters or be burned in the fire! WE ARE REDEEMED with sinless, saving Blood of the Passover Lamb Yahshua today as we apply the Blood to the doors of our hearts. As the death angel passes over, Yahshua says: Not that house! And, the government rests upon His Shoulder – for this, we have HOPE.
Putting ‘Trump’ in your initial headline is deliberately misleading.
Eddie –
You said “I think the victims of the hurricane on the East cost need the help more, but evidently, you do not.”
THIS is part of the problem: NO WHERE did Greg say that. You made an assumption and put words into his mouth.
Another part of the problem: You are also making something an “either/or” that should be a “yes/and”: people who are victims of the hurricane need help AND so do those who are here – legally or not – who lack food, clothing and shelter in one of the most brutal winters we’ve had in a bit (next week in Chicago, it will be in negative temps for several days in a row).
Another part of the problem: You are assuming all immigrants and refugees are here illegally. WRONG. Not all immigrants and refugees are “illegal aliens” (AND not all “illegal aliens” are immigrants and refugees.) What about those who were brought here as children and grew up here? It’s not all black and white, either/or.
Your assumptions, oversimplifying, and reckless stereotyping of an entire demographic undermine your argument.
So, do Barber, Mohler, etc. utilize the tax exemptions and other tax perks associated with being a church or clergy? Is there a difference between not taking tax funds and not paying taxes that others pay due to your position as a church or clergy?
Yes, there is a vast difference between the two. Churches have been historically tax exempt from the founding of the colonies. Most recognized the benefit and importance of the church to society far outweighed any tax revenue that might have been lost. The opposition to taking money from government entities is due to the issue that those funds usually come with strings. I was personally involved in a church that assisted a state funded food bank with distribution of surplus food items. Because the food came through from the state funded entity, the church (wrongly) had to be careful to not share the Gospel, wait for it, IN THE CHURCH! Churches and other para-church organizations are far more efficient than any government agency when it comes to application and allocation of aid monies. That is not up for dispute. Just take a look at the recent natural disasters to see who was first on scene and who got help to people in the most timely manner. Hint: Christians and Christian aid organizations
Excellent Point Amy,
The religions figures and institutions who suddenly seem very keen on disparaging those who accept government contracts and aid appear perfectly fine accepting billions a year in tax savings from the federal and state governments.
Every church and ministry in the USA that doesn’t pay taxes, can exempt their properties, etc is receiving a massive tax subsidy from the federal government. At least those that have a contract with USAID have to prove to the government that they’re delivering a measurable service to the country for services rendered.
I’m not saying we should start taxing all churches and ministries (though the system does need reform), but the next time you see a big-name pastor decry “taking government money” see that hypocrisy with a for what it is while you consider their tax-free church, parsonage (mansion), private jet, etc….
Proverbs 22:22-23
“Do not exploit the poor because they are poor and do not crush the needy in court, for The Lord will
take up their case and will exact a life for life.”
I am looking forward to The Lord demanding the lives of many including those tares who in partnership with evil, promote and worship the gratuitous cruelty of the so called “Christian Nationalism”. In an instant they will be in total darkness and eternal torment-waiting for when all of the books are opened. The Law of the Harvest (Galatians 6:7) has Never failed and once again will come to pass starting with Trump.
Taking government money is not a sin per se, it is not mentioned in the Bible.
And doing it one time – say, to cover a deductible for repairs after a disaster – is not wrong.
Where the problem arises is doing so on a regular basis to cover expenses, such as many of these “voucher” schemes where religious schools can take taxpayer money to cover tuition. IMHO, this shows that the school – despite saying loudly that “God will supply our needs through His riches – really doesn’t believe that.
“”He also believes the Baptist Faith and Message assumes a strict line between the church and the government””
Not True: The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit institution. Contributions are tax-deductible (per their website). under “Give” link.