Timely advice for faith-based organizations? Source: N. Kinney

Our president has a lot on his plate right now, including the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, a battered economy and health care in need of reform.  Putting his own stamp on efforts to better utilize religious organizations as social problem-solvers is probably not at the top of his “to do” list.  However, for those like myself who have watched the policy developments concerning faith-based initiatives over the past decade or so, a bit of speculation seems warranted about what might happen under the Obama Administration.

Earlier this year, President Obama announced the formation of a new executive-level office that would guide his administration’s efforts to increase the participation of religious groups in addressing social problems.  Some had predicted that the new president might dismantle altogether George W. Bush’s White House Office of Community and Faith-based Initiatives.  However, the administration made some noticeable waves about revamping the office.  What will the Obama Administration’s approach to faith-based initiatives look like?  How is it likely to differ from the steps take by the Bush Administration?

I’m not really a gambling person, so I’m not inclined to go out too far on a limb.  Here, however, are some safe bets about the future of faith-based initiatives under Obama:

No new money. Not a surprise, actually:  the sour economy won’t allow for new funding just to help faith-based groups. What might be surprising, however, is the similarity on this point with the Bush Administration.  Despite the rhetoric, there was no expansion of funding for federal programs that sought the involvement of religious groups during the Bush years.

More inclusivity. Given the religious diversity of President Obama’s own family, there could be more credible efforts at involving non-Christian groups with the Administration’s faith-based efforts.  Research since 2000 on the types of religious organizations involved in government contracting show Christian groups overwhelmingly in the majority of those funded.

Increased vigilance on constitutional protections. President Obama’s reputation as a Constitutional scholar suggests that First Amendment concerns for freedom of religious expression and safeguards against state-sponsored religious activity are likely to be more rigorous.   Discrimination in hiring by religious groups under contract with government was a recurring charge during the Bush era. The administration is beginning to draw fire, however, for the delay in addressing these issues (see The New York Times editorial, 10/14/09).

In addition, here are two rather “sure” bets:

Substantive change will be politically driven. Support for policy innovations like faith-based initiatives or charitable choice requires political motivation. President Obama is only one in a line of presidential candidates since 1996 who jumped on the faith-based bandwagon during their campaigns.  His skillful use of community organizing techniques suggests that he has genuine confidence in grassroots, community-based groups including churches, synagogues, and mosques.  Whether his conviction translates into tangible, not purely symbolic, support for faith-based organizations is yet to be seen.

Scarce resources will constrain innovation. Times are tough for all nonprofits.  Economic pressures on states and cities will continue to “squeeze” nonprofits of all kinds, especially as local governments delay payment for services rendered by religious groups that receive public funding.  Faith-based groups that ventured into contracting relationships with government may find it difficult to continue those services, especially if they counted on government as a sole source of funding.

One last prediction may be the most reliable of all: religiously motivated good works will outlast this presidential administration, regardless of what the Obama White House is able to accomplish.  No policy change yet has managed to discourage the will of religious groups to help, even in some small way, to solve social problems that trouble society.