The News and Information Resource of

THE OHIO COUNCIL OF CHURCHES

APRIL 2025


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Dateline: April 4, 2025


On this day in 1968, news rang out of Memphis, Tennessee – catastrophic news that would reverberate across the nation and around the earth: the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a Baptist minister and leader in the love-centered, nonviolent struggle for racial justice, the end of poverty, and peace over war, had been shot to death.


My 8-year-old, third-grade ears heard this news in Cleveland, Ohio, where I lived with my family.


Sadness and outrage enveloped Cleveland and numerous U.S. cities and towns. In my community and many, many others, there was shock and numbness as well as people slowly began to contemplate a future without the physical leadership of the most visible and vocal prophet of love the country had ever seen. Amid this contemplation was this question: Who would replace Dr. King?


It did not take long before several of my bicycle-riding third-grade friends and I answered the question, solemnly: “We will. We will continue Dr. King’s work.”



Of course, we did not fully grasp the magnitude of the movement Dr. King both participated in and led. Even so, his assassination served as a call to social justice action for several of my classmates and me, one that would give shape and direction to our lives forever.


I am sure that in the days following Dr. King’s assassination, many people experienced a call to social justice action while others recommitted themselves to the struggle for equality, peace, and unity.


What is your call-to-action story? In this turbulent moment in the life of our nation, where power is being wielded in ways that dehumanize people and disrupt communities, I am sure there are some third-graders among us, joined by scores of people of all ages, who are beginning or continuing the work for love-centered justice, the end of poverty, and peace in concert with other Christians and people of faith and goodwill. 


My prayer is that as we Christians make our way through the final days of Lent, we will experience the Holy Courage necessary to live out the words of the late Father Peter Scholtes, words I rely on very often:


We will work with each other, we will work side by side.

We will work with each other, we will work side by side.

And we’ll guard each (one’s) dignity and save each (one’s) pride

And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love.

Yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love.


With Hope,

Jack

The Rev. Dr. Jack Sullivan, Jr.

Executive Director

The Ohio Council of Churches

125 East Broad Street

Columbus, Ohio 43215

Office: 614.372.8010

Cell: 216.905.5119

Email: JSullivan@ohcouncilchs.org

Website: www.ohcouncilchs.org

DC PEACE TEAM OFFERS TRAININGS

 

• SUNDAY APRIL 6

2-4 p.m. ET

ADVANCED UNARMED CIVILIAN PROTECTION: EARLY WARNING, EARLY RESPONSE (ONLINE)

This will include but not be limited to examples of strategy for protecting immigrants at sensitive locations, such as schools and religious communities. Details and registration here.


• SATURDAY APRIL 12

10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. ET

RESTORATIVE APPROACHES TO RE-ENTRY: WORKING WITH RETURNING CITIZENS (ONLINE)

This session is designed to provide participants a chance to hear from people with lived expertise and to engage with both the theoretical roots and practical applications of Restorative Justice applications, specifically with returning citizens. Details and registration here.


• TUESDAY APRIL 22

6:30-8:30 p.m. ET

SPECIAL TOPIC: TOXIC RELATIONSHIPS – HOW TO COPE AND OVERCOME (ONLINE)

A toxic relationship is any relationship that significantly harms your mental health, self-esteem, and overall well-being. Skills will be offered to support positive, thriving, empowered relationships and transform how we show up in our relationships. Details and registration here.

DC Peace Team is available for groups or organizations that would like in-person or online training, whether that's a one-time training or to set up a regular schedule of training sessions. Learn more here.

REGISTER HERE.

REGISTER HERE

LEGISLATIVE TRACKER


Education Bills Pending (from Honesty for Ohio Education)


Fair School Funding Plan

Brief description: 90% of Ohio students attend public schools, but Ohio politicians are trying to gut public school funding.

Action Needed NOW: On April 1, House Republicans proposed a state budget that would end the bipartisan Fair School Funding Plan and slash school funding by over TWO THIRDS. We cannot let this stand.


SB 68 – Nonchartered Educational Savings Accounts (ESAs) – Broader and even less regulated than universal vouchers.

Brief description: ESAs are basically a flexible spending account. They can be spent on ANYTHING that’s vaguely education related, not just tuition (which is what vouchers cover). An even less accountable use of our tax dollars.

Action Needed NOW: This bill has been added as an amendment into the state budget.


SB 34 – “Historical Educational Displays Act” requiring the display of certain documents in schools

Brief description: Districts would be required to choose from among a set list of “historical documents” to display in each classroom in each school – including the Ten Commandments and the Ohio/national mottos.


SUBSTITUTE BILL 4/1/25

“Narrows the scope” of the bill so it applies to social studies and history classrooms starting in fourth grade.

Requires affected classrooms to display four of nine historical documents listed in the legislation instead of one of nine as mandated by the prior version.

Replace the nine documents included in the bill with a list of “100 milestone documents” identified by the National Archives.

Action Needed ASAP – Moving FAST. Fourth hearing in Senate Education Committee on Tuesday, April 1, 2025.


SB 127 — Allows the state to close certain public schools

Brief description here.

Action needed ASAP — The bill sponsor, Sen. Andrew Brenner, is moving this bill quickly through his own committee (Senate Education Committee). Third hearing in Senate Education Committee on Tuesday, 4/1/25.


SB 113 and HB 155 – Ban all diversity, equity, and inclusion in K-12 public schools.

Brief description: “Prohibits diversity, equity, and inclusion in public schools.”

Action Needed ASAP – The bill sponsor, Sen. Andrew Brenner, is moving this bill quickly through his own committee (Senate Education Committee).


HB 28 – Ban replacement property tax levies

Brief description: HB 28 gets rid of an important tool used by local school districts to raise revenue when needed. Replacement levies allow a local school district to replace an existing levy to adjust revenue for property value growth. They are different from a renewal levy, which only renews the levy at the previously passed max income.

Action Needed ASAP – Already passed the House. In Senate Ways and Means Committee.


SB 13 and HB 25 – Foster-To-College scholarships

Brief description here.

Action Needed ASAP – Best chance of getting this bill passed is likely to get it added to the state budget.


SB 109 – School meals for K-12 students

Brief description: This bipartisan bill would provide breakfast and lunch at no cost to public school students and chartered nonpublic school students.

Action Needed ASAP – We’re hoping this bill will be included in Ohio’s massive state budget, which is moving quickly through the Statehouse.


HB 42 – Require school districts to collect and report immigration and citizenship data

Brief description: Requires certain entities (including school districts) to report on immigration status and report on students here “unlawfully.”


HB 137 – Library Levies

Brief description: Allow a taxing authority to refuse to submit a requested library levy or general health district levy to voters.


SB 73 – CROWN ACT

Brief description: Ban discrimination against natural hair styles in schools.


SB 107 and HB 153 – Make all state board of education AND local school board races partisan

Brief description: Would make all state board of education AND local school board races partisan. Requires all state board of education candidates, Educational Service Center (ESC) candidates, AND local school board candidates to appear on the general election ballot with a political party designation.


OTHER LEGISLATION

HB28/SB3 State Budget – We are partnering with the Hunger Network of Ohio to ensure that there is adequate funding in the state budget for affordable housing and to reduce or eliminate hunger for our most vulnerable populations. We are also advocating for equitable funding for public education. Budgets, according to our colleague Deacon Nick Bates, are moral documents! See the Education Summary for items which we are following.

SB53 – Regards civil actions for vandalism or riot activity injuries. This bill is a direct attack on Ohio citizens’ First Amendment Rights as it pertains to speech and assembly. We oppose passage of this bill. This bill would:

  • Punish individuals and organizations for protests by holding them financially liable for property damage they did not commit.
  • Shift the burden of proof onto the accused, violating due process and threatening advocacy groups and community organizers.
  • Strip local governments of oversight of law enforcement, removing critical checks on police accountability during protests.

SB75 – Increase penalty for failure to report a lost or stolen firearm. We support passage of this bill.


HB45 – Prohibit certain firearm transfers without a background check. We support passage of this bill.


HB46 – Enact the Extreme Risk Protection Order Act – allows certain persons to obtain a court order that temporarily restricts a person’s access to firearms under specified circumstances. We support passage of this bill.


HB72 – Prohibit public funding for lethal injection drugs; death penalty. This bill does not eliminate the death penalty in Ohio; it just prohibits use of state funds to do executions. We oppose passage of this bill. We still want a clean bill that makes the death penalty in Ohio a thing of the past!



HB26 – Enact Protecting Ohio Communities Act – require state and local authorities to cooperate with the federal government in the enforcement of immigration laws, to prescribe funding reductions for noncompliance, to name this act the Protecting Ohio Communities Act, and to declare an emergency. This is an anti-immigration bill that seeks to do harm to our immigrant population. We oppose passage of this bill.

RELIGIONS FOR PEACE ISSUES SECOND CALL FOR NOMINATIONS FOR WOMEN OF EXCELLENCE IN MULTI-RELIGIOUS ACTION AWARD


Religions for Peace has issued a second call for nominations to expand the recognition of women’s leadership in advancing the six Strategic Priorities of Religions for Peace at the grassroots level. These Priorities include;


  • Promoting Peaceful, Just and Inclusive Societies 
  • Advancing Gender Equality 
  • Nurturing a Sustainable Environment 
  • Championing Freedom of Thought, Conscience and Religion or Belief 
  • Strengthening Interreligious Education 
  • Fostering Multi-Religious Collaboration and Global Partnerships 


“This award is a powerful reminder that the contributions of women of faith must be seen, valued, and sustained. It is a call to recognize their leadership – not just in words, but in real action and investment,” said Dr. Francis Kuria, Secretary General of Religions for Peace. “By launching this second call, we are reaffirming our commitment to ensuring their leadership is visible, valued, amplified, and sustained. We invite individuals and organisations to nominate outstanding women of faith within the Religions for Peace global movement who are making a real difference in their communities.”


Learn more about the award process and find the nomination form here. The deadline is April 30.

On Good Friday, April 18, churches across the country are invited to ring their church bells beginning their Tenebrae services in solidarity with a profound and historic event happening simultaneously: the Lantern Service at Old North Church in Boston. This event, marking the 250th anniversary of the “two if by sea” signal that sparked the American Revolution, will be commemorated with an inspiring keynote by Dr. Heather Cox Richardson, a renowned historian and author of Democracy Awakening.


How to Participate:

• Begin your service by ringing bells as people gather, recalling the historic call for freedom.

• Invite your congregation to step outside, reflect, and join in this moment of unity.

• Encourage other churches in your community to take part!

• Ring bells with your fellow parishioners on your church steps, with your friends in a park or on a street corner, or online!


Join the Movement by filling out the participation form. Information collected will only be used for this event.


As you gather for your service, know that your church bells are joining a national movement uniting faith communities for justice and liberty. Just as bells rang for freedom two centuries ago, this moment will inspire prayer and action. Simultaneously, Old North Church will be ringing their bells at 6 p.m. as the community gathers for their 250th Anniversary Service with music, reflections on Paul Revere’s ride, and the lighting of historic lanterns, honoring past courage and reflecting on faith and freedom today.


This is more than a commemoration; it’s a call to action. We invite every church to join this monumental campaign for liberty and justice—whether by ringing bells, gathering in your community, or participating virtually. This moment offers unity, remembrance, and a chance for all to be part of a historic occasion.

WCC publishes Faith and Order paper encouraging churches to work for common celebration of Easter


The World Council of Churches has published a Faith and Order paper, “Towards a Common Date for Easter,” as an encouragement to churches and Christians to work with one another in their own contexts for a common celebration of Easter.


Fresh impetus to explore the hope of a common date for Easter comes in 2025, when all Christians will celebrate Easter on a common day. The year 2025 also marks the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, which addressed the need for a common celebration of the resurrection.


Eastern and Western churches have used different calendars to calculate the date of Easter since the 16th century, and only rarely do they coincide.

The publication contains four contributions from different church traditions on the search for a way to celebrate Easter on a common date every year that were presented at a webinar organized by the Commission on Faith and Order on “Easter 2025: Celebrating Together to Strengthen Unity.”


The organizers hope that these contributions may help animate the churches of the world and Christians in their contexts to work with one another towards a common celebration of Easter.


“We hope these offerings — which include historical depth, rich reflection, and exciting practical suggestions — may help animate the churches of the world and Christians in their own contexts to work with one another toward a common celebration of Easter,” the publication’s coeditor, Rev. Prof. Dr. Sandra Beardsall, wrote in the introduction. “For we could then give visible witness to that mystery of faith that truly unites us, that refuses to give the last word to despair, and that invigorates us anew to pursue life for all in the world God so loves.”


Coeditor Rev. Prof. Dr. Martin Illert said, “We hope that the anniversary of Nicaea this year will help create a momentum so that in the future all Christians can celebrate Easter together.”


The newly published paper also contains the document “Towards a Common Date for Easter” produced at a consultation jointly sponsored by the World Council of Churches and the Middle East Council of Churches in Aleppo, Syria, in 1997, offering observations and specific recommendations for the churches.


The full document can be found here, and an interview with the WCC General Secretary, Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay, is available here.

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