Is It Well with Your Soul? The Surprising Divide within the Baptist Community Concerning Trinity Lutheran Church of Columbia, Inc. v. Comer

Abstract

Baptists and Protestants alike are often seen as a monolith. However, there is a rich diversity of opinion concerning separation of church and state amongst notable Baptist institutions, namely, the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention and the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty. Contrary to the contentions of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty, Trinity Lutheran Church of Columbia, Inc. v. Comer does not undo the centuries of Baptist advocacy for a distinct demarcation between church and state. In fact, Trinity Lutheran’s holding empowers those affiliated with the Baptist faith to engage more meaningfully with their governments and communities-at-large. Further, the Protestant influence has been largely under-appreciated with regards to American governance. Martin Luther and his ilk guided the Founding Fathers to unambiguously delineate the church and state, and the Holy Bible provided instruction concerning the branches of government. Trinity Lutheran shows an appreciation of that history and enshrines a reinvigorated reverence for the American church, specifically churches aligned with the Protestant faith.