April/May 2026 Newsletter

Hello, Fellow Freethinkers.

We're  combining our April 🌧️ and May 💐 newsletters into one big spring fling with two main features we think you'll really like.

Secondly: a guest post from local ordained Episcopal deacon, Douglas Argue. 

Douglas eloquently lays out the case for repairing the quickly crumbling wall between church and state through active resistance. 

It's a refreshing reminder of what theistic leadership should look like in a country that claims to protect the right to practice (or to not practice) any religion, including no religion at all.

Resistance, Ordained - by Deacon Douglas Argue, MSW, LISW

As an ordained Episcopal deacon and self-avowed follower of Jesus’ teachings, I feel a bit out of place writing an article for the Central Ohio FFRF. 

And yet, here I am. And I do find alignment with my personal experience and beliefs and the mission of COFFRF. 

Many people don’t realize that our constitution was the creation of and written by Church of England Anglicans – the forebearers of the The Episcopal Church. They were struggling against tyranny and a government that was dictating how they should act and what they should believe. As a result, the idea and practice of the separation of church and state was solidified in the constitution and has been a bedrock of our political system ever since. That’s not to say that it hasn’t been harshly tested and examined over the history of our country and continues to be today with the acts of our current administration skirting the limits and often crossing the boundary of this separation of entities. 

Even as a deeply faithful clergy person, I don’t want just one viewpoint or faith-path to be the end-all be-all for my community. It is only through our diversity of belief and thinking that many have come together to help those that have experienced or are experiencing difficult times. For example, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is a humanitarian movement with approximately 16 million volunteers, members, and staff worldwide. It was founded to protect human life and health, to ensure respect for all human beings, and to prevent and alleviate human suffering. Two different religions and faiths coming together to reach a common human goal of lifting people up. They operate outside and inside political systems who are often in conflict to be the “beacon of light” that COFFRF espouses. And that’s just one example of hundreds that get dismissed by the narrow approach of “God and Country.” 

Forcing prayer in school, the placement of any doctrinal monument on public property, creating national commissions to determine discrimination for only Christians, granting government monies to religious organizations (regardless of belief systems) that are exempt from evidence-based or standard non-profit practices simply are not acceptable in a society that values the separation of church and state. From my personal perspective and understanding of the teachings I follow, it is simply anti-Christian to adopt such practices and policies as mentioned above. I don’t know of an established faith system that would say otherwise from its center and core. 

So, what is one to do? Resist. 

When our country was established and the people found the policies and practices too oppressive, they resisted. When our siblings could no longer endure the cruel discrimination they faced because of the color of their skin, they resisted. Countless women resisted the fact they had no voice and vote, until they resisted. Unjust laws are never overturned or challenged until they are resisted. I was not able to marry the man I love until me and my queer siblings resisted the fear and ignorance of our governmental practices that were veiled in religiosity. 

Even in my own denomination I am called upon to resist the political structure and “speak truth to power” with love and compassion. Divestment from fossil fuels, calling out abuse and discrimination, and supporting reparations are all forms of resistance that I have been a part of within multiple political structures. Have they made a difference? I have faith that they have. 

Yes, I align with the COFFRF in resisting the erosion of our democracy through the loss of our separation of church and state. Yes, I am in alignment with the inclusivity of all points of view; and, yes, I align with creative practices that can be a beacon of light. My religious and spiritual beliefs allow nothing less. I, too, need a beacon of light to lead me through the darkness; not just one light but a backyard-full-of-fireflies beacon of lights leading in a variety of directions that are all good and proper. 

Go – use your resistance to allow other viewpoints to be heard; Go -- be the light our community needs; Go – light the fire of resistance and allow the blazing flame to lead and inspire others to do the same. 

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Douglas Argue serves as managing director at the Coalition of Homelessness and Housing in Ohio (COHHIO) with a career steeped in promoting decent, safe, fair and affordable housing. His previous work includes being the shelter director for Daybreak in Dayton, a homeless youth shelter; serving as the director of housing and emergency assistance for The Damien Center,  an AIDS service organization in Indianapolis; practicing as a psychiatric social worker serving both adult and youth populations in inpatient and outpatient settings; and, doing managed care for mental health and substance benefits for an insurance company.

Douglas earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Evansville in Evansville, Indiana, holds a Masters of Social Work from Indiana University; is an LISW in the state of Ohio and is an ordained deacon in the Episcopal Church.