Southern Baptists serve without federal reimbursement

Southern Baptists serve without federal reimbursement

 

Southern Baptist disaster relief response is not contingent on government reimbursement, according to Robert E. “Bob” Reccord, president of the entity that coordinates the SBC’s national disaster response- the North American Mission Board.

In a front-page story in The Washington Pose Sept. 27, Reccord said, “Volunteer labor is just that: volunteer. We would never ask for the government to pay for it.”

His comments were included in the story concerning the announcement by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that it will reimburse churches and other religious organizations that have provided shelter, food and supplies to survivors of hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

The article quoted Joe Becker, senior vice president for preparedness and response for the American Red Cross, as saying, “I believe it’s appropriate for the federal government to assist the faith community because of the scale and scope of the effort.”

Civil liberty groups, however, were quick to condemn FEMA’s action as violating the concept of separation of church and state. Reccord told another national news media outlet that he appreciated the government providing a level playing field for relief.

“No faith organization should be penalized in a reverse discrimination situation for stepping in and helping what the government needs to have done,” he told Brian Kilmeade, host of the Fox News Channel’s early morning news program, “Fox & Friends.”

Reccord said Southern Baptists’ response might often be more efficient than government response because for Baptists, “it’s more of a lifestyle and calling than a job.”

He put the value of Southern Baptists’ disaster relief labor at about $9 million.

When he asked if he expected reimbursement for the labor, Reccord said, “No, that’s not our focus. Our focus is volunteering. The only reimbursement we get is from the Red Cross for the food we serve.”

(BP)