A Pastoral Message from the Dean on: A Separation of Church and State is Good for Both

Author:
July 10, 2025

Many of you have likely read the pastoral letter from our Bishop, the Rt. Rev. Poulson Reed, regarding the recent announcement from the IRS about political endorsements by churches. I want to take a moment to reflect with you on how this impacts us at St. Paul’s Cathedral.

Let me be clear: St. Paul’s will never participate in the endorsement of political candidates—nor will we oppose them by name or campaign. This has never been our practice, and it will not become one. Though the legal landscape may shift, our spiritual and ethical commitments remain rooted.

The Gospel is inherently political—it speaks to power and to systems, to justice and to peace. Jesus fed the hungry, healed the sick, challenged unjust authority, and proclaimed liberation. But his politics were never partisan. They were never beholden to emperors or parties or polls. His kingdom is not of this world, and we—his followers—are called to live in the tension of that truth.

St. Paul’s has always been, and will continue to be, a place where people of good faith and differing political opinions can worship side by side. Our unity is not in our party affiliation but in the Body of Christ. It is precisely this kind of community—diverse, compassionate, and committed to dialogue—that is so rare and so needed in our polarized world.

We will continue to preach and teach the Gospel. We will speak out on issues that touch the dignity of human life and the flourishing of all creation. We will call one another to love our neighbors, to work for justice, and to honor the image of God in every person. And we will also trust each person’s conscience, shaped by prayer and sacrament and study, to guide their actions in the voting booth.

Our Cathedral will always be engaged in the moral life of the world, but we will never engage in partisan politics. That is not our calling. Our calling is deeper, riskier, and ultimately more powerful: to proclaim and embody the love of God in Jesus Christ, without condition and without exception.

In that spirit, I give thanks for you, and for our shared commitment to being a community of faith, hope, and love.

Faithfully,

The Very Reverend Katie Churchwell +
15th Dean, St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral

Bishop's Message: The Separate of Church and State is Good for Both

Read Bishop Poulson's Editorial in the Oklahoman

 

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