To celebrate Constitution Day, the Howard Baker Center for Public Policy and the UT Libraries invite everyone to attend Church and State, an interactive forum featuring UT faculty experts and members of the community on Monday, September 15 at 4 p.m. in the 1st floor galleria of Hodges Library. The event is free and open to the public.

The line between church and state has always been in question; it is never completely clear how much support the federal government can show to faith-based communities. President Bush’s Office of Faith Based and Community Initiatives reaches out to grassroots organizations and faith-based communities across the nation. Recently, Democratic Presidential candidate Barack Obama said that he would overhaul the program, claiming that the President’s office never fulfilled its promise.

What is the line between federal funding and faith-based initiatives? How are faith-based initiatives held accountable for appropriate use of these funds? Will increased government attention to churches be a continuing trend in American politics? This forum will invite participants to struggle with these questions along with expert participants.

The forum series presented by the Howard Baker Center for Public Policy and the UT Libraries invites participants to actively engage in dialogue about pertinent political issues. Unlike traditional lectures, participants are seated in a circle and are encouraged to actively participate alongside experts in various fields.

Constitution Day is Wednesday, September 17. This day recognizes the signing of the U.S. Constitution on September 17, 1787. The UT community is invited to a Sign Your Constitution event on the pedestrian walkway outside Hodges Library from 11-4 p.m.