Letter to the Editor Northern Kittitas County Tribune October 17, 2025

There is a growing danger in this country as Christian nationalism claims one particular understanding of Christianity as the only true faith and one form of political understanding as the only way to live. To equate Christianity with loyalty to any nation is heresy.  To claim that our nation is “Christian” is to fundamentally misunderstand, or deliberately choose to ignore, the realities of our Constitution.  The separation of Church and State is necessary to protect both!

As a Christian and an American, I call for a proper relationship between Church and State.  As a follower of Jesus, my faith teaches me to call all humans my family. Jesus teaches me that my connections to others transcend political party labels and country citizenship. As Christians, we are called not to dismiss others on the basis of skin color, country of origin, sexual orientation, or religion.  As Americans, we believe in the protections embedded in our Constitution and Bill of Rights for all people to freely practice their religion, or indeed not practice religion. It is wrong for any political party, or any country, to claim that God is on their side. 

We pray for all who believe that there is no problem commingling flag and country. We are convinced that the majority of those who do so are trying to be faithful followers of Jesus and good Americans. The leaders of Christian Nationalism movements, however, use the language of fear and God to cast those who disagree as “enemies.” They do not seek to bring unity but division. I urge everyone to listen carefully to the words used, and ask if those words would ever be heard in the Gospels. Words which exclude and demonize those who disagree are not the words of Jesus. 

Kate Rogers, Bishop’s Warden

Episcopal Church of the Resurrection Rosalyn