Oklahoma Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives unveiled
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — On Thursday, Governor Kevin Stitt announced the new Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. It stems from House Bill 3840 and is under the umbrella of Oklahoma Human Services.
"Our office will serve as a main point of contact for churches and faith based organizations seeking to impact their local communities that they love and care," said Andrea Stasyszen who's the office liaison.
Faith-based groups and non-profits can register with the state's "Be A Neighbor" program, where Oklahoman's can use the website to find services like housing, clothing, food, mental health programs, and more.
"This is not something that we are forcing them to be a part of. This is something that most people will want to be a part of because it's a way for our churches and our government to partner, to take care of our communities," said Representative Ajay Pittman (D-Oklahoma City).
State leaders confirmed all religious and non-profit groups will be welcomed into the program.
"The Supreme Court has been very clear that if there's a program or a service that a state is going to offer, then you can't discriminate based on a religious organization," said Governor Kevin Stitt.
Representative Ajay Pittman co-sponsored the bill and said it was a "no-brainer."
"We know that the churches already have the infrastructure, they already have the resources and they already have the relationships, the churches have an opportunity to opt in. This is not something that we are forcing them to be a part of. This is something that most people will want to be a part of because it's a way for our churches and our government to partner, to take care of our communities," said Representative Pittman.
News 4 reached out to Americans United for Separation of Church and State to see if the agency may violate any laws.
"As long as this initiative treats religious organizations and non-religious organizations equally and doesn't discriminate, then there shouldn't be any constitutional violation," said Alex Luchenitser, Americans United for Separation of Church and State.
To learn more about the Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives or services with the "Be A Neighbor" program, click here.