Separation of Church and State…or Not?
In 1644, Roger Williams, the founder of Rhode Island and the first Baptist church in America, called for a "wall or hedge of separation" between the secular world and the church. In 1802, Thomas Jefferson penned a letter to the Danbury Baptist Church in Connecticut in response to its fears of religious persecution. In that letter, Jefferson emphasized the First Amendment’s free exercise, explaining that this created “a wall of separation between church and state.”
The Establishment Clause, as it is known, separates church from state but not religion from politics or public life. The First Amendment states, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." People are free to bring their religious convictions into the public square precisely because the government must treat all faiths equally.
When the role of religion in politics comes up in today's public discourse, the phrase "separation of church and state" is often part of the conversation. Proponents say this separation is law and must be maintained. Opponents say this phrase never appears in the Constitution and goes too far in taking religion out of public life. The Faith and Civic Life Brief, written by The Policy Circle, states:
Throughout American history, religious congregations—first churches, then synagogues, mosques, and temples—have been hubs of vibrant communal life and civic engagement…The story of American civic life-enhancing community quality through political and nonpolitical means is intertwined with the history of American faith traditions. As our pews have emptied, we’ve become socially disconnected, communally distrustful, and civically disengaged. Without strong social bonds to bridge political differences, public policy disagreements now divide Americans more than at any time in recent memory.
You may remember reading Alexis de Tocqueville’s book Democracy in America (1835) in school. Even back then, Tocqueville recognized that voluntary associations were a hallmark of American democracy, distinguishing it from European societies. He noted that civic groups and religious associations were crucial to promoting civic ideals and community. Harvard political scientist Robert Putnam found, “religious institutions are pivotal in fostering community connection and social solidarity in America. About half of all group memberships are religious, significantly contributing to philanthropy and volunteering.” He also noted that “higher rates of churchgoing and participation in community or social clubs correspond with more volunteering.” (Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community, 2000)
A 2019 Pew Research Center Report found that active members of religious congregations tend to be happier and more civically engaged than religiously unaffiliated or inactive members. In addition, in the United States, religiously active Americans report higher happiness, greater involvement in nonreligious organizations, and more consistent democratic participation. Robert Putnam (ibid) also noted, “Faith communities also pass on their civic virtues to their children.”
The Rev. James C. Howell, senior pastor of Myers Park United Methodist Church in Charlotte, N.C., believes something went haywire with this reasonable separation. He contends “The separation is lost, and in an absurd way, with churches mindlessly cheerleading for somebody or something unworthy of the Gospel – or Jesus gets perverted into a party’s front man, which makes Jesus in heaven shudder.” (United Methodist Insight Sep 2024) Howell continues, as Methodists, “we are accountable to God, and we have the freedom to speak across that divide that separates church and state…. And so we speak up, we vote, we exercise engaged citizenship, we do the church’s part.”
Howell adds, “We need to calm down and not be surprised if we hear something biblical and it seems to jam up against our political ideology. We should be open, and thank God, and try to find ways to get more engaged in God’s adventure on earth. We should gravitate toward candidates who mirror Jesus to us more clearly than others, and to policies that enact something resembling the kingdom of God. We invite others to join us.”
Eileen Brogan