The League of Women Voters of Roselle-Bloomingdale Area and invites the public to a free, virtual presentation on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. titled, “Separation of Church and State: History, Law, and Democracy.”
As divisions deepen and place new strains on both our social fabric and representative democracy, the need for robust civic education has never been greater. The separation of church and state—a cornerstone of American governance designed to ensure government neutrality in religious matters—is once again at the center of national debate. Recent flashpoints include a federal court ruling on Texas’s SB10 law mandating the display of the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms, as well as new IRS guidance that could allow houses of worship to endorse political candidates without risking their tax-exempt status.
Keynote Speaker
Sheldon Nahmod, Distinguished Professor of Law Emeritus at Chicago-Kent College of Law and a nationally recognized expert in constitutional law, will provide historical context on the Founding Fathers’ differing views, review key constitutional provisions, and discuss today’s judicial interpretations of church-state separation.
Panelists
Following Professor Nahmod’s presentation, panelists from three faith-based organizations will explore how their work addresses issues of religious freedom, democracy, and bridging divides:
Dr. Vincent Bacote, Director, Center for Applied Christian Ethics, Wheaton College
Chris Crawford, Senior Director of Civic Strategies, Interfaith America
Terry Kyllo, Lutheran Pastor and Executive Director, Paths to Understanding
A moderated Q&A session will conclude the event.
How to Attend
The program is free and open to the public. Attendees do not need to be League members to participate. Register at: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_P69ev-3sQ5ibHFpO-2xbdA#/registration. The program will also be recorded and posted at lwvrb.org for later viewing.