Church vs State--still an issue

We still struggle with separation of church and state. Today’s Lexington newspaper (11-27-20) carries the headline, “Federal judge says Beshear can’t stop classes at religious schools.” In 1980 my Pastor predecessor at Trinity Baptist Church, who was on the State School Board, was debating whether the State has the right to supervise private schools. Private schools were primarily religious schools. My predecessor believed the State did have the right to guarantee all students, whether in public, private or religious schools, were receiving an equal education. Therefore, the State has the right to supervise all schools. With this pandemic, the issues may have changed but we are still debating issues of church and state. My Baptist background says there needs to be a strict division between church and state. Nevertheless, my Baptist colleague ministers, as well as other ministers, will say when they are officiating a wedding, “By the power invested in me by the Commonwealth of Kentucky, I pronounce you husband and wife.” Not much separation of church and state in that statement and action. I believe in consistency. If the State cannot regulate religious schools, then, only the State officials should be conducting marriages. If the couple or family should desire, Ministers and the churches may bless the couple, but not ‘officially’ conduct the wedding.