The Separation Cooperation of Church and State



What a summer it’s been in Salinas and throughout Monterey County. From Celebrate America, where thousands gathered to honor our veterans and enjoy a night of unity, to Wheels & Wonder for our kids, to delivering 3,500 backpacks to students across our local schools, your generosity shined. Thank you to city partners, business sponsors, and the hundreds of volunteers who rolled up their sleeves to bless our community. As we turn toward a beautiful fall, Compass Church will keep serving families through mentoring, food support, and free community events.

Some have asked, in light of recent conversations, “What about the separation of church and state?” Many people think that phrase is in the Constitution or Bill of Rights, but in truth, it’s not. However, it is a fair question, and it deserves a clear, calm answer.

First, what is it? The phrase comes from an 1802 letter Thomas Jefferson wrote to the Danbury Baptist Association. He pictured a “wall of separation” to ensure the government would neither establish a national church nor control a person’s conscience.[1] In our Constitution, that vision appears in two twin protections: the Establishment Clause (government may not establish religion) and the Free Exercise Clause (government may not prohibit the practice of faith).[2] These clauses safeguard both the independence of churches and the liberty of every citizen.

Second, what does it mean in practice? Over the years, courts have affirmed that people of faith don’t lose their rights when they step into the public square, and that the government can partner with religious organizations on neutral, community-serving programs... so long as participation is open to all and no one is coerced to worship. For example, the Supreme Court protected equal access to public benefits for a church-run preschool’s playground resurfacing program, emphasizing that faith-based groups cannot be disqualified simply because they are religious.[3] The Court has also upheld historic practices like opening civic meetings with volunteer chaplain prayers when no one is pressured to participate.[4] And it has recognized that a public-school employee’s brief, personal prayer, off duty and without coercion, falls under free speech and free exercise protections.[5]

So how do churches and civil government find common ground for the common good? By keeping partnerships simple and purposes sincere: serve people, honor conscience, and be transparent. When a city invites nonprofits (secular and faith-based alike) to help with food security, youth mentoring, disaster relief, or community celebrations, it strengthens the social fabric without endorsing anyone’s theology. That’s not the state running the church or the church running the state; that’s neighbors working together under the same Constitution.

At Compass Church, we don’t attach strings to kindness. You don’t have to believe what we believe to receive help or enjoy an event. We serve because Jesus taught us to love our neighbors. And strong families, safe neighborhoods, and flourishing schools are goals we all share.

This fall, we invite you to join us, in conversation and service. If you have questions, let’s talk. If you want to volunteer, we’ll put a shovel, a backpack, or a broom in your hands. Monterey County is home, and when we work together, everyone wins.

With gratitude,

T.K. Anderson
Senior Pastor, Compass Church
Salinas, California

[1] Thomas Jefferson, “Letter to the Danbury Baptist Association,” January 1, 1802. Library of Congress.

[2] U.S. Constitution, Amendment I (Establishment Clause & Free Exercise Clause). National Archives, “The Bill of Rights: A Transcription.”

[3] Trinity Lutheran Church of Columbia, Inc. v. Comer, 582 U.S. (2017), No. 15–577 (opinion of the Court, June 26, 2017).

[4] Town of Greece v. Galloway, 572 U.S. 565 (2014), No. 12–696 (opinion of the Court, May 5, 2014).

[5] Kennedy v. Bremerton School District, 597 U.S. (2022), No. 21–418 (opinion of the Court, June 27, 2022).

Response Regarding Compass Church’s Non-Profit Grant Application

To our community. Our city officials have set up a Salinas non-profit grant program. We appreciate the transparent, merit-based process that invites local organizations, large and small, to serve our neighbors. Our properly submitted and timely application simply requested the same neutral consideration offered to any qualified 501(c)(3). We were not asking for special treatment, only equal footing under the program’s published criteria.

For more than 155 years, Compass Church has been part of the fabric of Salinas... showing up, rolling up our sleeves, and investing in people. In just the last three years, with the help of business partners and hundreds of volunteers, we have:

• Supported disaster relief efforts locally and beyond, mobilizing volunteers and resources when families were displaced.
• Provided Christmas gifts for children in need and Easter Egg Drop community gatherings that are safe, welcoming, and free.
• Hosted two Celebrate America events that honored veterans and first responders and offered a unifying, family-friendly night for our city... without charge to attendees.
• Offered monthly support for 11 local agencies and non-profits, strengthening programs that fight food insecurity, mentor youth, and care for vulnerable families.
• Directly invested $600,000+ over the past three years in Salinas, Monterey County, and global partnerships that bring tangible help where it is needed most.

Our aim is straightforward: serve people without strings attached. No one has to share our beliefs to receive help or enjoy an event. If the City awards funds, they will be used exclusively for eligible, secular community-benefit purposes... such as fireworks and safety, strictly in line with program guidelines. We will gladly meet every accountability requirement: documentation, reporting, and outcome metrics.

We also recognize there has been recent noise, claims that a church should be categorically excluded from civic partnership. With respect, we disagree. America’s long practice is that faith-based and secular organizations alike can partner with government neutrally and voluntarily to serve the common good, so long as participation is open and there is no coercion. That’s not the church running the state or the state running the church... It’s neighbors working together for the sake of children, families, and public safety. We won’t be distracted by accusations; we’ll let our record of service speak for itself.

To address practical concerns directly:

• No special treatment requested: We seek the same evaluation and oversight applied to every grantee.
• Clear, eligible uses: Any awarded funds will be applied to community-benefit activities that meet the City’s criteria.
• Transparency: We will publish impact summaries so residents can see where dollars and volunteer hours go.
• Scalability: If the full sponsorship amount is not approved, we will adjust the scope to available resources or pursue additional private funding.

Salinas is our home. We are grateful for our city leadership, our business community, and the extraordinary non-profits that labor daily for the welfare of our neighbors. Compass Church will continue to pray for our leaders, serve alongside our partners, and invest generously... because when people flourish, the whole city thrives.

Thank you for your consideration and for the privilege of serving together.

With gratitude and respect,

T.K. Anderson
Senior Pastor, Compass Church
Salinas, California