Lake Nokomis Community Center
2401 E. Minnehaha Parkway
Minneapolis, MN 55417

We will view a video of Dr. John E. Finn, professor of government at Wesleyan University, where he has taught for more than 20 years. He is a coauthor of American Constitutional Law: Essays, Cases, and Comparative Notes and an internationally recognized expert on constitutional law and political violence.

Synopsis: The Supreme Court, in Everson v. Board of Education (1947), insisted that the establishment clause envisions a strict "wall of separation" between church and state. That position is sometimes called the strict separationist position. In recent years, though, several members of the Court have rejected it in favor of the so-called accommodationist position, which would allow at least some forms of nonpreferential governmental aid to religion. Finn explains that behind both positions are different visions about the proper relationship between church and state.

The presentation will be followed by a discussion session facilitated by our president, Scott Lohman.