Nevada Summit On Faith-Based Grants Organized By Sen. Reid

Last Tuesday, U.S. Democratic Senator Harry Reid convened the Northern Nevada Faith-Based Services Summit in Reno, according to yesterday’s Reno-Gazette Journal. The participants discussed issues such as housing, senior services, drug abuse and gang violence. The event was designed to acquaint religious organizations with federal resources available to them and provide them information on how to apply for faith-based grants. It was also aimed at bringing together religious and secular social service providers and private business. Many of the speakers were skeptical of President Bush’s Faith-Based Initiative. Dr. Bob. Edgar, general secretary of the National Council of Churches of Christ said, "There's been a lot of talk about the faith-based initiative. It is my fear that President Bush thought the faith-based initiative would simply be, 'Lets take all the welfare programs and dump that on the churches and synagogues and mosques.' The faith-based initiative must be based on partnership."