The News and Information Resource of

THE OHIO COUNCIL OF CHURCHES

SEPTEMBER 2025

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FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S PEN

Dear Friends,

With a heart full of gratitude, and after nearly 42 years of ministry, I announce to you my desire to enter into retirement on Jan. 1, 2026, and thus conclude my ministry as Executive Director of the Ohio Council of Churches on Dec. 31, 2025.

Before my Jan. 1, 2019, start date as Executive Director, I served as chair of the Council’s Justice and Witness Commission and later as a Governing Board member representing the Ohio Region of my denomination, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada. Through these experiences, I came to know and love the Ohio Council of Churches.

It has been my privilege to serve as a leader among leaders and servant among servants in my role as Executive Director. The Council has entrusted me with giving pastoral care to the relationships between communions while extending leadership to both the articulation of the gift of Christian unity and the proclamation of the love and justice ethic of our Savior Jesus Christ in the public square and the Statehouse.

I am profoundly thankful for the artistic freedom and gracious support given to me by the Governing Board, the creative relationships I enjoyed with staff colleagues, the productive partnerships with leaders of Christian, interfaith, and civic organizations, and the meaningful exchanges with committed pastors, laity, youth, and young adults in congregations. Thank you for being part of this journey toward unity. May His light continue to shine!

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

INVITATION TO RETIREMENT CELEBRATION OF

REV. DR. SULLIVAN

Greetings to you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and on behalf of the Executive Committee of the Governing Board of the Ohio Council of Churches!

I write to extend to you a personal invitation to the retirement celebration of our Executive Director, Rev. Dr. Jack Sullivan Jr., on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025, at Trinity Episcopal Church, 125 East Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio. I am pleased to share that a highlight of this celebration of Rev. Dr. Sullivan will include the preaching voice of Rev. Dr. Vashti Murphy McKenzie, President and General Secretary of the National Council of Churches of Christ USA.

This time of celebration will consist of three parts, all of which I hope you will be able to attend:

• From 4-5 p.m., the Governing Board will meet with Jack for the final time, both to hear from him about his work and also consider together the future structure and leadership possibilities for the vital ongoing work of the Ohio Council of Churches.

• From 5:15 to 6:45 p.m., a Special Dinner will be held in Rev. Dr. Sullivan’s honor.

• At 7 p.m., we will gather for a celebration worship in the sanctuary of Trinity Episcopal Church, where we will hear the Good News delivered by the Rev. Dr. Vashti Murphy McKenzie.

As I am sure you are well aware, the Ohio Council of Churches has been richly blessed by Rev. Dr. Sullivan’s tireless leadership. For 42 years, Jack has poured his life into a wide range of ministries from the local church to judicatory and national setting ministries in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). In these last seven years, his public witness on our shared behalf as Executive Director of the Ohio Council of Churches has interjected again and again a compelling and urgent witness to the love of Christ made real in the work of justice and peace. A globally recognized voice in the work toward the abolition of the death penalty here in Ohio and around the world, Jack’s poetic words and deep spirit have been a holy interruption so needed in this time in which we live.

I have always been struck by the fact that in all of Jack’s correspondence his closing salutation consists of two words: “With hope!” It is the spirit that has permeated our shared life in the Ohio Council of Churches because of his leadership, for which we are so very grateful.

Learn more about the celebration of Rev. Dr. Sullivan's retirement and purchase tickets here.

Blessings,

David

Rev. David Long-Higgins is the Chair of the Governing Board of the Ohio Council of Churches. He is also the Conference Minister of the Heartland Conference of the United Church of Christ

THE OHIO COUNCIL OF CHURCHES DESIGNATES

OCT. 19 AS ANTI-RACISM SUNDAY

On Anti-Racism Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025, the Ohio Council of Churches and its partners ask Christian congregations to publicly declare racism to be a sin, an offense to God that is incompatible with God's loving and just vision for humanity as made known through Jesus Christ (Luke 10:25-37; John 4:1-26; Matthew 28:19; Matthew 22:37-39). Anti-Racism Sunday marks the beginning of a 13-week emphasis on detecting, disrupting, and dismantling racism, culminating in the celebration of the birthday of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

In an era where hard-fought racial justice and diversity firewalls have been attacked and voided, and as faith is being weaponized to give the scandalous appearance of divine endorsement of racialized hate, Anti-Racism Sunday is an opportunity for Christians and their neighbors of different faiths to clearly and publicly set the record straight: God does not support racism, and neither do we!

On Anti-Racism Sunday, people of faith will continue or launch their commitment to confront racial disinformation with truth; to counter racial misinformation with facts; and to challenge racial fear with love.

WELCOME TO ANTI-RACISM SUNDAY 2025!

#DoNotHateInGod'sName

#JesusHatesNoOne

#JesusLoveAllPeople

#DoNotDiscriminateInMyName

#DismantleRacism

#LoveOverFear

#ImagoDEI

#GodIsAntiRacist

#JesusIsAntiRacist

#LoveOvercomesLies

Click here to share how your church will celebrate Anti-Racism Sunday.

With hope,

Jack

The Rev. Dr. Jack Sullivan, Jr.

Executive Director

The Ohio Council of Churches

REGISTER HERE.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR RESPONDS TO EFFORTS

TO CHANGE OHIO’S RELIGIOUS MOTTO

“A better use of scripture is to inspire adherents to model their faith through loving their neighbors, working for justice, and teaching nonviolence and peacemaking,” said Rev. Dr. Sullivan. 

CLICK HERE.

OHIO LEGISLATION ON GUN VIOLENCE

WE ARE TRACKING

House Bill 45 – Prohibit a federally licensed firearms dealer from transferring a firearm unless the transferee passes a background check. Sponsors: Cecil Thomas and Rachel Baker. The OCC supports passage of this bill.

House Bill 46 – Allow certain persons to obtain a court order that temporarily restricts a person’s access to firearms under specified circumstances. Sponsors: Cecil Thomas and Michelle Grim. The OCC supports passage of this bill.

House Bill 68 – Allow a concealed handgun licensee to carry a handgun in a building or structure that is not a courthouse but in which a courtroom is located in specified circumstances and to permit a nonresident of Ohio to obtain statutory relief from firearms disability based on an Ohio conviction, guilty plea, or delinquent child adjudication. Sponsors: Adam Matthews and Justin Pizzulli. The OCC DOES NOT support passage of this bill.

Senate Bill 75 – Increase the penalty for failure to report a lost or stolen firearm. Sponsors: Paula Hicks Hudson and Catherine Ingram. The OCC supports passage of this bill.

Amariah

Rev. Dr. Amariah McIntosh

Associate Director

Ohio Council of Churches

Observed every October 10, the World Day Against the Death Penalty unifies the global abolitionist movement and mobilizes civil society, political leaders, lawyers, public opinion and more to support the call for the universal abolition of capital punishment.

The day encourages and consolidates the political and general awareness of the worldwide movement against the death penalty.

This year, the World Day will be dedicated to challenging the misconception that the death penalty can make people and communities safer.

Using the “security argument” at best politicizes a judicial procedure that is supposed to be impartial and fair, and at worst provides a context for human rights abuses in the name of State protection.

It is undeniable that the death penalty does not protect individuals and societies because it threatens human dignity and reinforces social and economic disparities by disproportionately affecting marginalized groups.

To achieve effective long-term solutions, we must prioritize people’s concerns, tackle the root causes of crime and violence and apply a human security approach in conflict resolution and creating safer societies. Abolish the death penalty now! Learn more here.

REV. SULLIVAN APPEARS ON SPECTRUM NEWS 1 OHIO

Spectrum News 1 Ohio recently spoke with Rev. Dr. Jack Sullivan Jr. about safety on school premises and places of worship. “I believe God is on the prevention side of this matter,” he said. “It's a matter of faith and care for all humanity.” Watch the interview here.