There are groups in Minnesota that are busy tearing down the wall that separates church and state. These groups are well staffed, well organized, and well funded. They are also highly motivated. When their activities go unchecked, the religious freedom of all Minnesotans –believers and non-believers alike – is slowly eroded. It’s time for us to fight back.

 

The First Amendment Watchdog Committee invites you to a seminar that will help you defend your liberties. We will begin with a presentation that will cover the basics of the constitutional framework that establishes separation, debunk popular myths you’ll typically hear from opponents, explore the landmark court cases that have dealt with these issues over time, and describe contemporary issues of concern to those of us here in Minnesota.

 

The second portion of the seminar will be more practical and hands-on. You’ll learn where you should be looking for violations of church and state, how to make others aware of them when you come across them, and what resources you can call on to help fight them. You’ll also learn how to effectively approach your legislators, what arguments tend to work with people of different ideologies, and how best to communicate with them. You’ll also be introduced to effective letter writing techniques, both to newspapers and legislators. Finally, you’ll have the opportunity to apply what you learn in collaborative break-out sessions with other participants, working on actual contemporary issues confronting us here in Minnesota.