Reverend Dr. Jack Sullivan, Jr
Executive Director
The Reverend Dr. Jack Sullivan, Jr., is an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) US and Canada. He serves as executive director of the Columbus-based Ohio Council of Churches. A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Dr. Sullivan is an internationally-known leader, ecumenist, preacher, justice advocate, and death penalty abolitionist. In recognition of his work to stop executions, Dr. Sullivan was given the 2020 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Social Justice Award by Governor Mike DeWine and the Ohio Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission and the 2019 Humanitarian Award from the Black Heritage Library and Multicultural Center of Findlay, OH. In 2018 he received the African American Liberation Award from the National Convocation of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Ohio University; a Master of Divinity degree from Lexington Theological Seminary; a Doctor of Ministry from United Theological Seminary (Dayton); and an honorary doctorate from Bethany College, Bethany, West Virginia.
Dr. Sullivan is board president of Journey of Hope…From Violence to Healing and co-president of the Disciples Justice Action Network. He is an advisory board member of Catholic Mobilizing Network, Trinity Lutheran Seminary, Columbus, OH, Death Penalty Action, Restorative Justice International, and the US Global Leadership Council. Dr. Sullivan is immediate past board chair of Ohioans to Stop Executions, and a former steering committee member of the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty. He holds life memberships in the NAACP and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., and is a member of the Faith and Order Commission of the National Council of Churches, the Society of Professional Journalists and the Academy of Homiletics.
Rev. Dr. Amariah H. McIntosh
Director of Public Policy
The Ohio Council of Churches is pleased to announce that the Rev. Dr. Amariah H. McIntosh of Toledo, Ohio has recently accepted the call to serve as the Council’s Director of Public Policy in a half-time capacity. Rev. Dr. McIntosh, an ordained elder in the Christian Methodist Episcopal (CME) Church, succeeds the Rev. Brandi N. Slaughter who recently began service as a member of the faculty of the University of Maryland at College Park.
Rev. Dr. McIntosh has served as pastor of congregations in Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio where she is the current pastor of Phillips Temple CME Church in Toledo. A longtime ecumenist and justice advocate, she holds a Bachelor of Science degree in History and Afro-American Studies from Indiana University, Bloomington, IN; a Master of Divinity degree from Louisville Presbyterian Seminary, Louisville, KY; and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Louisville, KY. Her doctoral project was titled, “What Does the Lord Require of You? African American Leaders of BUILD (Building A United Interfaith Lexington through Direct Action) Reflect on Micah 6:8.”
In addition, Rev. Dr. McIntosh earned a Certificate in Theology and Racialized Policing from the Certificate in Theology and Racialized Policing from the Howard Divinity School, Washington, DC, and is set to complete a Certificate in Trauma and Spiritual Care from the University of the Redlands, San Francisco, CA.
Rev. Dr. McIntosh is a current member of Toledo-based ecumenical expressions such as the Interdenominational Ministers Alliance, Methodist Ministers Affiliation, United Pastors for Social Empowerment. Her prior ecumenical leadership posts were with the Kentucky Council of Churches where she was Chairperson of its Justice and Advocacy Committee and At-Large member of the Council’s Executive Board.
Additionally, Rev. Dr. McIntosh has served with groups such as Evansville’s Congregations Acting for Justice and Empowerment (CAJE) where she chaired a research committee on re-entry and recidivism, Lexington, KY’s Building a United Interfaith Lexington through Direct Action (BUILD), and the Alliance for Congregational Transformation in our Neighborhoods of Youngstown.
Other areas of involvement for Rev. Dr. McIntosh include service on the Alumni Board, President’s Roundtable, and the Black Church Studies Advisory Committee of Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary; and Co-Director of Nehemiah Project, Director of Social Concerns, and Former Statistician of the Ohio Central Indiana Annual Conference of the CME Church. She has engaged in legislative advocacy with the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, Ecumenical Advocacy Days, Kentucky Council of Churches, CAJE, and the Ohio Council of Churches.
Rev. Dr. McIntosh was the recipient of the inaugural Linsey/Hoyt Ecumenicity Award from the CME Church and is a member of the NAACP and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.
Deanna is a resident of Columbus, Ohio. She earned an Associate of Applied Science degree in Paralegal Studies at Columbus State College and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Rhetorical Communications at The Ohio State University. Deanna also completed a certificate in Ministry Studies at Ever Increasing Life Ministries and a diploma of completion in Ministry Education at Ever Increasing Word Ministries.
Deanna began her service with the Ohio Council of Churches during spring 2021. She began her career in corporate America. Ultimately Deanna transitioned to the Education Industry. She has worked as a Reading, Language Arts tutor for elementary students, an Adult Basic Literacy and GED Instructor for adults, and an After School Programming Site Director for elementary and middle schools. Deanna has also been a state-licensed home childcare provider where she owned and operated a small childcare business for 10 years. In this small, home-based business Deanna taught Early Childhood Education and Preschool curriculum. She is currently enrolled at Northcentral University where she is completing a Master's degree in Legal Studies.