Small Talk

November 2016

“When in the course of human events…” is one of the most well-known opening phrases in any piece of writing. For over 240 years, the Declaration of Independence has been revered as a beacon of justice, hope, and freedom.

As citizens of the United States, we have the right and privilege, indeed the responsibility, of choosing our representatives and leaders. We get to vote.

Some of you may vote in the Parish Hall right here at PACC. Someone recently asked me how that could be – didn’t that violate the separation of church and state? No, I don’t believe it does. Neither does having a U.S. flag in the Narthex. Both certainly are political, but they are not partisan, and that’s the difference.

The phrase, ‘separation of church and state’ is not in Declaration of Independence. It’s not in the U.S. Constitution either. It appears in a letter written by Thomas Jefferson in 1802. In that letter, Mr. Jefferson comments on the First Amendment to the Constitution. That Amendment prevents the imposition of a state religion and it means that one’s faith doesn’t qualify nor disqualify a person from public service. All of that is good. All of that is a measure of living in a just and free society.

Men and women of faith have lived and died ensuring that you and I can go to the polls and express our preferences freely. I pray that you will embrace and exercise this right by voting on November 8th.

Faithfully,
Jill