DENOMINATIONAL MEMBERS
Wear Your Support to Help Stop Gun Violence – Shirts Available for Sale
Help us spread Gun Violence Prevention Awareness by supporting the cause and saving lives. One Team. One Goal. A whole lot of support. We’re thrilled to share some exciting updates on all the great things happening at the Gun Violence Prevention Committee of the Ohio Council of Churches. Our resources are expanding with Committee members’ input.
Welcome to the Ohio Council of Churches
A Jesus Christ Movement For Unity, Justice & Peace!
The Ohio Council of Churches (OCC) is a partnership of 17 Christian denominations in 23 different organizational configurations or judicatories throughout Ohio. While our administrative offices are in Columbus, the Ohio Council of Churches is much larger than any office; it is all of us, together, across Ohio!
Justice & Advocacy Ministries
Mental Health Stigma Reducation
Fair Legislative Maps
The Freedom to Love
“For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm…and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. For you were called to freedom…only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another.” (Galatians 5:1,13, NRSV)
So, which is it, Paul? Are we free? Or, are we slaves? What am I missing here? We spend a lot of time talking about freedom these days. Freedom, or its preservation, is heralded as the good intention and motivation from both - every - side of the aisle. Freedom is to be both wildly defended and more obtained. The motives for maintaining or encroaching upon freedom are weaponized and scrutinized at nearly every political, economic, legal, and social turn. Freedom is to be both wildly defended and more obtained.
Collectively, we place a high value on freedom, we even prioritize it in our clothing. Our “freedom stretch fabric” ensures that we are not bound up, hemmed in, or compromising our own comfort...right down to our undies and our socks.
But sometimes it seems we misuse and denigrate the term, freedom. Secularly, it often implies a high degree of self-oriented individuality; “freedom” in our daily use of the word tends to consider self before considering other.
Still, it’s easy to get behind Paul’s initial call to freedom, isn’t it? We are unfettered, liberated and unyoked from the slavery that is the burden of sin and death. Claim this freedom! We are redeemed and set free! There is great rejoicing at the foot of the cross and at the threshold of the empty tomb.
But, what are we to do with this freedom as Christians? What are we freed and liberated to do? We are freed and liberated to live our lives in the Spirit.
We are freed from self-indulgence and self-centeredness.
We are liberated from our own self-destruction.
We are freed to liberally and effusively live the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
In the greatest of cosmic ironies, we are liberated to BE yoked and bound. We are free in Christ to do good things. We are free to be agents of reconciliation and love. We are free to place ourselves squarely in the breaches where we perceive the loss of another’s dignity, injustices, and abject oppression.
We are freed...to love those who do not love us. We are even liberated to the ultimate freedom of loving our enemies.
We are free...to BE yoked and bound, tethered and tied, chained and fettered... singularly...to LOVE.
Rev. Iva Joyce-Miesse
Associate Rector
Trinity Episcopal Church on Capitol Square in Columbus
Strengthen Our Bonds: Join Us at Upcoming Events
This past Tuesday (April 21st) we met with the Ohio Council of Churches Governing Board in-person for the first time this year for our annual spring meeting. The Governing Board of the Council is made up of our 23 partner judicatories serving congregations in Ohio. While a four hour meeting sounds long, it wasn't enough time to be in community and relationship with such great people.
As our conversation progressed about the future ministry of the Ohio Council of Churches, the group kept coming back to the idea and importance of relationships. In Scripture, we see the constant efforts from God to be in right relationship with humanity (and often how we come up short on our end.) But God doesn't walk away from relationship with us, but is constantly inviting us into sacred relationship with God and with one another!
As we move forward this year, and look to build an OCC for the future, we are going to continue to look at ways to strengthen our work of building relationships - especially across regional, racial, and denominational lines that too often segregate us from one another. As a coalition of Christian ministries, our relationships to our judicatory partners, and through them congregations, are essential to strengthen ministry efforts throughout the state.
Please join us at one of our upcoming events listed below to grow into relationship with us and one another!
Deacon Nick Bates, J.D.
Ohio Council of Churches,
Interim Executive Director
Faith and Freedom – May 2, 2026 from 9:00 - 12:30
Understanding Christian Nationalism in America
Join us for event which aims to educate clergy and laity of the Ohio Council of Churches' congregations and Columbu area African American Churches and community members about the main purposes of the Christian Nationalism movement. Event will feature Dr. kerri Parker, the executive director of the Wisconsin Council of Churches and feature a keynote address by Dr. Eugene Gibson, the Senior Pastor at Mt. Olivet Baptist Church.
Registration is $10 to cover costs.
Faith and Legislative Leader Luncheon May 18th
Building an Economy that Works for All 11-1, Ohio Statehouse
Join people of faith from around Ohio for lunch at the Ohio Statehouse as we learn from policy experts and bi-partisan lawmakers about efforts underway to make our economy work for all of us! This event is co-hosted by the Hunger Network in Ohio, The Council of Churches and the Dominican Sisters of Peace. Individual seats and table sponsorships are available!
