In the United States the relation of church and state is commonly called the "separation of church and state," and is popularly regarded as an American principle which should be universally adopted. In fact, the phrase regarding "separation" does not appear in our Constitution, but comes from a letter written by Thomas Jefferson to a friend in 1802 in which he refers to a "desirable wall of separation" between the realms of church and state.
Both of these realms are concerned with the common good, and therefore have overlapping interests and values. Their claims, however, differ in important respects
Numerous issues affecting church-state relations, the place of religion in public life, and the recognition of deity by government, have entered the arena of public debate. The issues have arisen in large part because of the increased heterogeneity of the American population, the acceptance of religious pluralism, the extension of governmental influence into nearly every phase of life, the need for additional tax revenues, and the difficulties for the churches in meeting the growing demands and complexities of their programs of health, education, and welfare.
Both church and state, under God, serve genuine needs of human beings. In so doing, they mutually affect one another. Neither should surrender its independence to the other, nor perform functions exclusively appropriate to the other. Church and state complement one another as they devote themselves to the best interests and well-being of persons.
Essentially the church is Gods avenue for reconciling man to Himself and for bearing living witness to His divine truth for man s life in community. The state is His instrument for maintaining peace, order, and justice in the community, for protecting the individual’s rights, for enhancing his possibilities for personal development, and thus for promoting the general welfare........................
