[NYTr] Overpaid, Under-educated Minister, Indiana FSSA Part Ways

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

Indianapolis Star - Sep 29, 2007
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070929/LOCAL/709290466/-1/LOCAL17

Minister, FSSA part ways

Cessation of benefit ends chaplain's controversial employment

By Robert King

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.