Certain days get burned into your brain so much that, even as the years roll by, you remember everything about them. Your wedding day, the days your children were born, days when you achieved certain milestones, are perfect examples.
For me, Nov. 16, 1987, is one of those days. That’s when I started working at Americans United for Separation of Church and State. I was 24 years old and had been hired to be the assistant editor of Church & State. Little did I know how my life was about to change and the incredible opportunities AU would give me.
Change is in the air for me again. After nearly 37 years, I’ve been contemplating the next phase of my life: retirement. I’m going to do it in phases, strolling slowly toward retirement. Next year, I will work for AU part time, mainly writing for Church & State and our “Wall of Separation” blog. On Jan. 1, 2026, I will be officially retired.
This means we needed a new editor for Church & State — and we got a good one. Bruce Gourley, whom you can hear from elsewhere on this page, is a scholar, historian, writer and public speaker. Bruce has published nine books, many dealing with Baptist history, but also one intriguing title about Yellowstone National Park. He holds a Ph.D. from Auburn University in American history with a minor emphasis in archival studies and Islamic history.
I’ve known Bruce for years. He has been a longtime member of Americans United and has contributed articles to Church & State. His commitment to AU and the cause of church-state separation is rock solid. He has the wordsmithing and editing skills this job requires — Bruce is the perfect combo!
Preparing to leave Americans United after so many years is bittersweet for me. Defending church-state separation has been my life’s work. It’s not easy to step away, but, for a variety of reasons, I’ve concluded that the time is right. Knowing that we have someone of Bruce’s caliber at the helm of the magazine that has been so important to me for almost four decades smooths the transition.
Please welcome Bruce!
– Rob Boston
For many years I have admired and benefited from Rob Boston’s sterling editorship of Church & State, learning much from his writings and appreciating his behind-the-scenes stewardship of the periodical, as I know you have also. In defense of church-state separation and equal religious freedom for all, he has long addressed some of the most important issues of our time with deep insight and exceptional clarity. His work has made and continues to make a significant difference in protecting the First Amendment’s religion clauses, work that positively impacts the lives of countless Americans.
Never did I imagine I would one day succeed Rob as editor of Church & State, the one publication I have most depended upon to remain up to date on church-state separation news and issues. Fortunately, Rob is not retiring quite yet, for which I am most grateful, as I have much to learn from him in my new position.
In my prior work, I frequently wrote about church-state separation from my perspective as a historian of American history; now I am thrilled to be expressly focusing on this pivotal issue of our times. Across the years I have been fortunate to work with many excellent and wonderful writers; now I am equally excited to be working with many more outstanding writers who pour their deep knowledge and expertise into informed and insightful articles that I believe all Americans should read.
My own journey as a reader began in a library — my mother was a librarian, and I a library rat from my earliest memories. From those formative years my editorial work has been informed by my perspective as both reader and writer. I hope to at least approximate the high standard that Rob established in his editorship that led me to connect with him, and I look forward to connecting with you as you read Church & State.
Together we’re all fighting for religious freedom. I hope to learn your stories. Email correspondence is always welcome ([email protected]) — and even the occasional postal letter, for those of you who still practice that time-honored craft. And if you will be attending the 2025 Summit for Religious Freedom, I look forward to meeting you there in person.
– Bruce Gourley