Separation of Church & State: History, Law & Democracy

As our communities face growing divisions straining our social fabric and representative democracy, civic education is more important than ever. The principle of separation of church and state ensures government neutrality in religious matters—yet it is increasingly in the news. Our keynote speaker, Sheldon Nahmod, Distinguished Professor of Law Emeritus at Chicago-Kent College of Law, is a nationally recognized expert in constitutional law. He will provide historical context on the Founding Fathers’ differing views, review key constitutional provisions, and discuss today’s political interpretations of church-state separation. Following his presentation, panelists from three faith-based organizations will share how their work addresses issues of religious freedom, democracy, and bridging divides: Dr. Vincent Bacote, Director of the Center for Applied Christian Ethics at Wheaton College, Chris Crawford, Senior Director of Civic Strategies at Interfaith America, and Terry Kyllo, Lutheran Pastor and Executive Director of Paths to Understanding. A moderated Q&A session will close the event.