I might.

But since religious social services and other non-profit social service agencies are all in the same business, more or less, why not just have folks gather together regardless of their belief systems or lack thereof?

In Massachusetts, where I once held a consultant role to a Democratic Governor, we convened religious and non-religious groups together along the lines of the issues and challenges and target groups those non-profits were serving, (e.g.immigrants, victims of AIDS, homeless, single parents, etc), and they worked effectively together, without any mention of their faith, or lack thereof. People with an expertise in drug or alcohol addiction, for example, could work together more effectively if they all knew each others particular strengths and weaknesses in addressing those issues, without regard for what they each did on the Sabbath. In that case, Jewish and Lutheran social service groups worked side by side, along with Catholics, who often had a longer history and more expertise in treatment of issues of addiction, yet needed secular clinical as well as social supports for people from all walks of life, more than the Catholic Social Services could muster for non-Catholic victims of addiction. The result: an expanded home shelter and transportation system in communities with few Catholics, but many Jewish and Protestant clients.

In short, why even mention religious affiliations AT ALL if the goal is to "foster communication and coordination on issues such as poverty, crime, violence, homelessness and other social ills"?

Not something that had to do with religion, although several folks had sincere religious convictions, many, probably. I was not involved in religion, I was involved in making democracy work more effectively.

No religious affiliations or convictions need be involved in solving problems, and I really wonder why it should ever come up, unless, of course, someone has an agenda related more to religion than to solving problems among American citizens.

Why "convene" religious groups? Just put them to work together.

a governmental agency. Just meant to tell you that it sounds like it was a good project.

The right wing wants to run national defense and law enforcement, the left wants to run social services. Both are corrosive to the proper functioning of government. Also, when the left gets involved in government, Grover Norquist gets a hard on. Liberal churches are playing right into the hands of big business conservatives.