- July 24, 2026
"Separation of church and state."
It's one of the most quoted phrases in American politics, and one of the most misunderstood.
For almost 20 years, I've had the privilege of serving the people of Flagler County as a pastor. I've prayed in our churches, at community events, in city halls, on campaign stages, and with elected officials from both parties. I've never believed those roles were in conflict. To me, they represent one of America's greatest freedoms: the ability to live out our faith while serving our neighbors.
Then, in 2020, I became the first Black woman to chair a Republican Executive Committee in Florida.
The Bible I preached from on Sunday was the same Bible I read on Monday.
My faith hadn't changed. What changed was how some people viewed it once it became connected to my political leadership. I began hearing something I'd rarely heard before: "Keep religion out of politics."
I wasn't asking government to preach my faith. I was simply refusing to hide the faith that has always guided my life.
That experience led me to ask a simple question.
Why is faith applauded when it inspires us to feed the hungry, mentor children, or help families in crisis, but criticized when it shapes how we think about the issues that affect our families, our schools, our community, and the leaders we elect? As a pastor, I don't want government telling churches what to preach, who can serve as pastor, or how to worship. That's not government's role.
But I also don't believe people of faith should be expected to leave their convictions at the door when they enter the voting booth, attend a school board meeting, or speak before their local government.
The beauty of America is that we don't have to choose between being faithful and being engaged citizens.
THE FIRST AMENDMENT
One of the biggest misconceptions in our country is that the phrase "separation of church and state" appears in the Constitution.
It doesn't.
The phrase comes from an 1802 letter Thomas Jefferson wrote to the Danbury Baptist Association. He was assuring a group of Baptists that the federal government would not interfere with their religious liberty. His concern was protecting the church from government control, not protecting government from religious influence.
The First Amendment reflects that balance. It prevents government from establishing a national religion while protecting every American's free exercise of religion.
In other words, government can't force you to believe, and it can't stop you from believing.
That's religious liberty.
GUIDED BY FAITH
The question isn't whether values belong in public life. The question is which values will shape the decisions we make.
As for me, my Christian faith shapes how I see the world. Scripture teaches that every person is created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). It calls me to "act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God" (Micah 6:8). Jesus told His followers to be the "salt of the earth" and the "light of the world" (Matthew 5:13-16). Those aren't instructions to retreat from society. They're a calling to influence it with truth, compassion, humility, and justice.
I don't expect everyone to share my beliefs. That's the beauty of a free society. But I do expect every American to have the freedom to live according to their conscience and to participate fully in public life without being told that faith itself is unwelcome.
The Constitution doesn't require Americans to separate their faith from their citizenship.
I'm not asking government to preach my faith. I'm simply refusing to hide the faith that has always guided my life.
The First Amendment doesn't ask Americans to choose between their faith and their citizenship. It protects our right to live both.
That's a freedom worth defending.
Jearlyn Dennie is a pastor and media host. Visit jearlyn.org.
