Minister, Family and Social Services Administration

Minister, Family and Social Services Administration part ways

Cessation of benefit ends chaplain's controversial employment

By Robert King, The Indianapolis Star, September 29, 2007

Close the books -- once and for all -- on the ties between the state's largest social service agency and a Baptist minister who spent a year and a half as the head of a troubled chaplaincy program that never got off the ground.

The Family and Social Services Administration axed the chaplaincy program Aug. 1, but its leader, the Rev. Michael Latham, remained on short-term disability for more than a month after its demise. His undisclosed illness had been diagnosed in the days before the program's termination, and agency officials said it was illegal for them to fire someone on disability.

Now, the pastor has recovered and his disability benefits were stopped Sept. 7, said FSSA spokesman Marcus Barlow. The disability payments were made by FSSA's private disability insurer, Barlow said. Based on Latham's $60,000 salary, those 60 percent benefits for 30 days should amount to about $4,100.

Latham's departure prompted the Wisconsin-based Freedom from Religion Foundation on Tuesday to drop its federal lawsuit against FSSA. The foundation contended FSSA had violated the First Amendment's prohibition against the establishment of a state religion by hiring a minister to counsel its employees. Foundation attorney James A. Friedman said the end of the chaplaincy program made the lawsuit unnecessary.

Latham was hired by FSSA to set up a network of clergy who could provide on-the-job counseling to FSSA employees across the state. More than a year into the job, the clergy network was nonfunctioning despite more than $100,000 in expenses.

Questions also arose about Latham's lack of post-high school education and chaplaincy training, his political ties and his decision to keep his full-time church pastorate and presidency of a branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People while working the state job.

Calls Friday to his Fort Wayne church were not returned.

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