BALTIMORE — Far from the swirl of presidential politics, Rev. Vashti M. McKenzie has marshaled her congregation behind a nationwide experiment to shrink the city's welfare rolls.
Since late 1997, Payne Memorial African Methodist Episcopal Church has trained nearly 600 welfare recipients, who now have jobs. Most are single mothers from diverse backgrounds in this once predominantly blue-collar city.
Some participants in the federally funded program could neither find nor keep a job, while others lost out because of illness or problems with substance abuse.
At the church's Anvil Office Building, a modern facility at the edge of gentrified Bolton Hill, they learn the basics of finding a job, dressing and behaving in the workplace, and, most importantly, staying employed.
"Look at the Bible. It shows that there is a plan for people," said Denise Harper, assistant director of Payne Memorial Outreach Inc. "Religion or a belief system can make a real difference by emphasizing that each person has a gift or talent vital to the broader community, something that [welfare] does not do."
Programs like Payne Memorial's are at the heart of a debate simmering within the political arena as Congress increasingly turns toward so-called faith-based groups to handle social welfare programs.
Civil liberties and civil rights groups warn, however, that they are prepared to challenge any encroachment on religious freedom by the church groups or the participants.
Marc Stern of the American Jewish Congress praised programs run by churches and religious groups.
"The question is their government funding," he said.
Stern and other critics make a distinction between programs of old-line organizations such as Catholic Charities and Lutheran Social Services, which he said, "provide social services in a secular setting," and those where "serious and substantial religion infuses the program."
Stern noted that states, which receive federal block grants for these programs, are required to provide an alternative if a participant objects to a program's religious nature.
"This is not going to happen in a smaller city where there's not enough unemployment to make it worth having more than one job training program," he said.
A test case, however, has yet to be filed.
"We're looking for the best case to litigate the matter," said Steve Benen of Americans United for Separation of Church and State.
Presidential candidates have endorsed closer government ties to operations such as that at Payne Memorial AME Church. Regardless of political party, they support the work of faith-based groups in dealing with such chronic problems as unemployment, drug abuse and juvenile crime.
Vice President Al Gore has pledged to rely on faith-based organizations for advice in policymaking.
He also insists these groups should be able to use public funds without having to shed their distinctive religious character "that is so often the key to their effectiveness."
Similar statements have come from Gov. George W. Bush of Texas.
"In every instance where my administration sees a responsibility to help people," he has promised, "we will look first to faith-based organizations, charities and community groups that have shown their ability to save and change lives."
Stimulating the debate are so-called charitable choice laws, sponsored by Sen. John Ashcroft (R-Mo.), which require states to allow religious institutions to compete for government funds in efforts to reduce welfare rolls.
In 1998, Congress expanded charitable choice to include other social programs such as school readiness. That law assured faith-based groups they could maintain their religious character but barred them from spending government funds "for sectarian worship, instruction, or proselytization in violation of the Establishment Clause of the 1st Amendment."
It is charitable choice laws that assure programs such as Payne Memorial that they can compete for federal funds.
Watchdog groups question the constitutionality of charitable choice and pending legislation in Congress that would extend the concept to other programs.
Recently, after months of negotiations, House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) and President Clinton announced a bipartisan agreement on a sweeping legislative package geared to improving the nation's impoverished communities. One key provision guarantees that faith-based drug and alcohol programs can receive federal funds "without discrimination" to help victims of substance abuse.
Hastert is pushing for House passage before the 4th of July recess, with Senate approval expected sometime before Congress adjourns for the fall campaign.
At Payne Memorial, the goal is simply for former welfare recipients to find and keep a full-time job with prospects to advance.