Seventy-five years ago today, on May 15, 1948, a publication was issued for the first time. It was just four pages long and produced on a typewriter. Its name was Church And State Newsletter, and it was the official voice of Americans United for Separation of Church and State.
Three-quarters of a century has passed, and the art of communications has changed substantially – but AU’s publication, now known as Church & State, still rolls off the press 11 times a year. It continues to play the role it did in 1948: to inform our members and supporters about the latest news regarding church-state separation and the work of Americans United. We hope to give you the information you’ll need to advocate effectively for religious freedom and church-state separation.
People have many ways of getting information these days. The web, which can link you to any number of news sites, is as close as your smartphone. Many people rely on social media platforms, podcasts or cable news to remain informed. Americans United takes advantage of all these platforms.
The rest of the story
But there is something about a print magazine that remains special. In Church & State, we can take the time to provide more detail, more context and more information about the topics we cover. A tweet or TikTok video is a good start; a magazine like Church & State fills in the rest of the story.
In the May issue of the magazine, I observed, “Church & State built a bridge between members all over the country and the AU staff headquartered in Washington, D.C. It was designed to bring members into closer connection with the organization, a role that continues.”
That role also continues. In the pages of Church & State, you can read a special message from AU President and CEO Rachel Laser every month. You can check the news briefs in the back of the magazine for a quick update and then take a dive into the longer stories. You can enjoy thought-provoking columns by guest writers.
A regular update of AU’s work
Best of all, you’ll be reminded that Americans United is hard at work defending a principle that is so important that without it, America will no longer be America – religious freedom resting on a wall of separation between church and state. Church & State is a regular reminder that, working together, there is much we can – and will – achieve.
If you’re not a member of Americans United, please join, and you’ll begin receiving Church & State. If you’d like to see a sample issue, drop us a line at [email protected], and we’ll get one right out to you.
