KANSAS CITY, Mo., Aug. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- This month, President
Clinton is scheduled to sign legislation that will fundamentally reform
the nation's welfare system. Rev. Stephen E. Burger, Executive
Director of the International Union of Gospel Missions (IUGM), one of
the nation's largest providers of services to the homeless, is excited,
but has strong skepticism about parts of this legislation.
"The bill has tremendous opportunities for RESCUE missions and other faith-based social service organizations," Burger said. "However, the devil is in the details."
Specifically, the bill contains a crucial provision called the Charitable Choice Clause that allows "states to contract with religious organizations to provide social services to the poor." However, the bill sets limitations: "No funds provided ... shall be expended for sectarian worship, instruction, or proselytization."
"This is where it gets muddy. If you say, 'God Bless You' to a homeless person, is that proselytizing?" Burger asked. "Can we pray before meals in the presence of people who come to us using government vouchers? These are tough questions that must be answered before faith- based charities will line up to help the government overhaul the welfare mess." Burger also cited concern that RESCUE missions accepting government funds would either have to change their programs fundamentally or risk being sued.
Most IUGM RESCUE missions are supported through private donations. Some missions that have received government help have had disastrous results: lawsuits, excessive paperwork, and valuable time and money lost complying with government regulations.
Founded in 1913, IUGM RESCUE missions have been providing social services to the needy longer than any welfare system in the United States.
"I have been asked several times, 'Can charities fill the gap?...'" Burger said. "I don't know. But, what I do know is that RESCUE missions work every day to expand their programs to meet the demand for their services. There are a lot of people at risk of falling off the welfare rolls and I am confident that RESCUE missions will help fill that gap."
"Congress and the President are headed in the right direction," Burger concluded. "RESCUE missions are not opposed to the welfare reform bill. For the most part, it is an improvement of the current system."
Founded in 1913, the IUGM is an association of 250 RESCUE missions from across the U.S. RESCUE missions provide emergency food, shelter, youth and family services, jail ministries, rehabilitation programs for the addicted, service to mentally ill persons on the streets, and assistance to the elderly poor, inner-city youth and street kids. Last year, IUGM RESCUE missions served more than 28 million meals, 10 million nights lodging, 24 million pieces of clothing, and graduated more than 14,000 homeless men, women, and children into productive living.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
Founded in 1913, the International Union of Gospel Missions is an association of 250 inner-city RESCUE missions that represent 6,600 individual RESCUE mission workers across North America, Australia, Guyana, India and the Republic of South Africa.
IUGM member RESCUE missions help the homeless and poor become independent, productive members of society by providing emergency services and long-term rehabilitation programs that meet their physical, mental, educational and spiritual needs. In 1995, IUGM member RESCUE missions:
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