BRENTWOOD, Tenn. — The Tennessee Baptist Children’s Home is in the midst of a religious freedom debate with state officials who do not want the home to continue its requirement that state foster children in its care must attend church.
A new state contract declares that the Baptist home cannot infringe on children’s rights to religious freedom if it wishes to keep caring for children in state custody. But Bryant Millsaps, president of the children’s home, said Baptist church attendance is at the center of its mission, The Tennessean reported.
“We cannot agree not to have our children, when they’re able, to be in church,” said Millsaps, a former Tennessee secretary of state. “That’s what families do.”
The state Department of Children’s Services said children need to be given a choice. “To us, it’s a basic constitutional right for our children to have a voice if they want to attend and where they want to attend,” said Carla Aaron, a department spokeswoman. The home has never taken taxpayer money and is funded by Baptist churches.
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