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Thursday, July 04, 2002

By Ervin Dyer, Post-Gazette Staff Writer

The White House director of faith-based initiatives served up lunch with a side dish of politics during a stop in Beaver County yesterday.

At Christ Episcopal Church in New Brighton, Jim Towey handed out beef stew, peaches and bread for the homeless and hungry, who make their way to the church each Tuesday and Wednesday for a free meal.

When he was done, Towey walked across the street to the First Presbyterian Church for a roundtable discussion on President Bush's goals for funding faith-based social services.

The president is pushing the initiative because he understands that people are hungry for relationships, said Towey. Faith-based groups can provide "work in the social service arena that is not just for material poverty, but can address spiritual poverty, as well."

He applauded the long-standing work of the Salvation Army, Catholic Charities and Lutheran Social Services, which already receive some government funding. He also noted statistics that show that religiously based drug and alcohol treatment programs are more successful than secular programs.

Towey, who was hosted by U.S. Rep. Melissa Hart, R-Bradford Woods, was kicking off a monthlong tour of 25 cities across America.

A bill to provide federal funding to faith-based and community groups passed Congress last October. A version is still pending in the Senate.

More than 25 clergy and social services representatives turned out in the basement of the church to learn more about the initiative.

The White House is attempting to frame the discussion by having politicians focus on whether faith-based organizations can provide good services, not on their beliefs in God.

"The president is looking for a faith friendly public square," said Towey, "not a faith-favored one."

Langdon Pegram is a part-time pastor at Christ Episcopal and a pediatrician in New Brighton.

"There's a lot I'm ignorant about on this," she said. "I'm here hoping to learn."

Pegram said the federal funding could help the church complete its mission of feeding the hungry and clothing the poor.

If public money becomes available for her church's soup kitchen, she'll use it to extend the charity to three days a week.

Eugene Williams, pastor of Lifeway Christian Fellowship in Beaver Falls, wanted answers on how to extend his Trail Ministry, which seeks to turn around abusers of drugs and alcohol.

He's submitted proposals for several block grants but has always been turned down, he said, because of the program's connection to a church.

"I just want to know ... how small groups can compete for money."