Missouri forms team to study cooperation with faith-based groups

JEFFERSON CITY-Gov. Matt Blunt reached out to religious groups Thursday, saying they often take better care of people than do “vast welfare programs” run by the government.At a conference of faith-based organizations, Blunt announced the creation of Faith-Based Missouri, a five-person team that will study how to further cooperation between state government and religious organizations.Unclear, however, was what services religious groups could perform that they are not doing now, and Blunt could not offer any examples.Asked about the line between separation of church and state, the governor agreed there is a line but said it would not be crossed.“Clearly, this is not about forcing anybody to go through some sort of religious conversion,” Blunt said, adding, though, that “a conversion will often occur, and nobody should apologize for it when it does.”The five-person team announced Thursday includes Ed Martin, Blunt’s chief of staff and a lawyer known for his work with anti-abortion organizations, and Angel McCormick Franks, director of the state’s Office of Supplier and Workforce Diversity.Other members are Reynaldo Anderson, an assistant professor of education at Harris-Stowe University; the Rev. Andrew Rollins III of Kansas City; and Cole County Sheriff Greg White.

http://www.kansascity.com/115/story/294310.html

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