1.  By joining the coalition they are showing their commitment to healthy families or agree to promote marriage education at their church(es).

2.  By joining the coalition they are qualifying their church or congregation to receive training, services or materials to facilitate the enrichment of families.

3.  By joining the coalition they will be able to fellowship and collaborate with other Protestant churches in promoting and preserving healthy families in both their church and community.

The Protestant Healthy Families Coalition is an association of churches that believe the family and marriage is important and scripturally ordained.  The Protestant Healthy Families Coalition respects the different doctrines of our coalition members and does not support  ecumenical movement.  The purpose of a coalition of Protestant churches is to rally behind a cause we all support, marriage and the family.

We have 34 churches and organizations that we consider part of our coalition.  This includes those who have signed our coalition certificate and those who said they needed to consult with other staff or research the possibility.  The following members are those organizations where one of their staff has signed our coalition certificate.

We have an additional 20 churches or organizations that we are awaiting confirmation of their membership. 

Married 4 Keeps, through the CHMC Compassion Capital Fund Intermediary Grant, has received a grant to bring Marriage Education to 34 Orange County cities. Since 86% of all weddings take place in churches, Married 4 Keeps is bringing Marriage Education to these cities through Baptist, Lutheran and Protestant churches.  Married 4 Keeps, a marriage educator, will provide access to training so that these churches' lay persons and couple mentors can train their congregations and communities in skills and provide education that will help couples form and sustain healthy marriages and families.

Grants such as these are made possible through the President's Faith Based and Community Based Initiative.  We have signed an agreement with the intermediary, The California Healthy Marriage Coalition, that no federal grant dollars "will be utilized to conduct religious services, give religious instruction, conduct prayer services, engage in proselytizing or support any activity that would constitute coercion of clients to participate in religious services or other religious activities.  In addition, no funds will be used to purchase  purely religious items, e.g. Bibles, Korans, Talmuds, icons, statures or religious symbols."

The paramount goal is compassionate results, and private and charitable groups, including religious ones, should have the fullest opportunity permitted by law to compete on a level playing field, so long as they achieve valid public purposes, like curbing crime, conquering addiction, strengthening families, and overcoming poverty."  - President George W. Bush

Quote From:  The Center for Faith-Based & Community Initiatives (US Dept Health & Human Services)

White House Faith-Based & Community Initiative
 

Faith-based and community organizations (FBCOs) have a long tradition of helping Americans in need and together represent an integral part of our nation’s social service network. Yet, all too often, the Federal government has put in place complicated rules and regulations preventing FBCOs from competing for funds on an equal footing with other organizations. President Bush believes that besides being inherently unfair, such an approach can waste tax-payer dollars and cut off the poor from successful programs. Federal funds should be awarded to the most effective organizations—whether public or private, large or small, faith-based or secular—and all must be allowed to compete on a level playing field.

Click on:  White House Faith-Based & Community Initiative Website