FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Source: Constitution Party of Georgia Date: January 15, 2004 Contact: Ricardo Davis of the CPGa – 770-924-8546

Georgia Constitution Party Questions Faith-Based Initiative Amendment

ATLANTA – In a public statement the Constitution Party of Georgia (CPGa) raised concerns over the current efforts of Gov. Perdue to amend the Georgia Constitution to encourage state funding of church ministries involved in charitable works. State Chairman Ricardo Davis of Woodstock stated that "Senate Resolution 560, the Faith-Based Initiative Amendment (FBIA), may undermine the ability of state-funded Christian ministries to communicate the life-changing message of the Gospel by limiting their Constitutionally-guaranteed right to free speech and exposing them to litigation from organizations antagonistic to the Gospel message." Davis elaborated, "In the fall of 2002, two former employees and others including individuals affiliated with Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays and YouthPride sued the United Methodist Children's Home (UMCH) and the Georgia Department of Human Resources (DHR). The DHR later settled with the plaintiffs without consulting the UMCH, agreeing to create a new contract to be used with all childcare service providers in the state. In order to continue to receive state funding the UMCH would have to agree to no longer prefer Christians in staffing their facilities and were forbidden to require the children to go to church or participate in religious activities as a condition of residence. Afterwards the UMCH reached a separate settlement agreement with the plaintiffs noting that, 'Continuation of the lawsuit would have resulted in expenditure of substantial resources that otherwise would be used in ministry to children and families.'" Georgia pastors and church leaders are rightly concerned. Pastor Jeff Vaughn of Faith Baptist Church of Columbus commented, "In spite of denials to the contrary, the state controls that which it funds. Is the Lord Jesus not able to provide for the needy through His church without state funding and restrictions? Jesus never addressed peoples physical needs without dealing with their spiritual needs as well, and churches and ministries should follow His example." Davis added, "Gov. Perdue must address the serious questions that church leaders have in light of the UMCH lawsuit and the recent DHR settlement. Pastors and churches in Georgia should their withhold support of the FBIA and urge their legislators to do the same." The CPGa advocates that state and federal governments protect our First Amendment rights and encourage charitable works by removing barriers to the support of churches and church ministries, such as allowing full tax-deductibility of all gifts given by individuals and corporations. ###

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