As both an ordained minister and a student of history, I read the recent Oregon Public Broadcasting article on the “Christian vision” for Battle Ground with deep concern. Faith can be a powerful force for compassion and community—but when it seeks to direct civic life or government policy, it risks distorting both democracy and religion itself.
History offers sobering lessons. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a Christian pastor who resisted the Nazi regime, warned of the grave consequences when the church aligns itself with state power. The result is not a stronger faith, but a compromised one—one that too easily trades humility for control and love for coercion.
The separation of church and state is not hostility toward religion; it is a safeguard for it. It protects the freedom of every person to believe, worship, or not, according to conscience, without pressure from those in power. It also ensures that our civic institutions serve all people equally, not just those who share a particular theology.
Battle Ground is home to people of many beliefs and backgrounds. Our strength lies not in enforcing one religious vision, but in upholding the shared civic values that allow diversity to flourish. Let faith inspire our personal lives and our service to others—but let our government remain grounded in the Constitution, accountable to all.
Sincerely,
Rev. Kate Lore
Battle Ground
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