DENOMINATIONAL MEMBERS
You're Invited to the Retirement Celebration of the Rev. Dr. Jack Sullivan, Jr.
The retirement celebration of our Executive Director, Rev. Dr. Jack Sullivan Jr., will be held on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, at Trinity Episcopal Church (125 East Broad Street, Columbus, OH). 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.
There's a Retirement Reception beforehand on Wednesday, November 12, 2025 starting at 5:15pm @ The Ohio Statehouse Museum Gallery.
Indicate your commitment for the Ohio Council of Churches Governing Board Fall Session 2025
and Rev. Dr. Jack Sullivan Jr's Retirement Reception.
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!
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Invitation to Retirement Celebration of Rev. Dr. Sullivan
– Retirement Reception on Wednesday, November 12, 2025
starting at 5:15pm @ The Ohio Statehouse Museum Gallery
Cards and gifts can be sent to the Ohio Council of Churches (125 East Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215)
Attn: Rev. Dr. Jack Sullivan Jr.
Hotel Reservations have been arranged for: Embassy Suites by Hilton Columbus Airport (2886 Airport Drive, Columbus, Ohio 43219). Their phone number is 614.536.0500 and the rate is $145 per night + tax. Ask for Ohio Council of Churches Assembly!
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
Learn About Pastors and Laity Advancing Nonviolence (P.L.A.N.)
September 19, 2025
Dear Friend of Unity, Justice, and Peace,
By now, we all understand that an ominous cloud of social, political, and religious dis-ease has enveloped many segments of our state and nation.
*Scores of our fellow residents are electing to express their anger and resolve their disagreements through the deadly use of easily obtained firearms.
*Federal and state budget cuts will callously leave millions of our siblings with no health insurance and inadequate levels of food;
*Inexplicable and unjustifiable terminations of hundreds of thousands of federal workers, including over 300,000 African American women;
*Hard-fought firewalls that celebrate diversity while championing equity and inclusion in educational and government institutions have been scapegoated and voided; and
*Christian faith - our faith - is being scandalously inverted to provide a safe harbor to racial hate, discrimination, and nationalistic fervor that deports and strips people of their God-given human dignity, civil rights, and due process.
The list of dis-ease indicators is much longer than those framed here. However, the long list of maladies that threaten us cannot overcome the power of God's love that transforms us. For I am convinced that John was right when he wrote, “…the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4 NRSVue) I am further convinced by Paul’s words, “We are afflicted in every way but not crushed, perplexed but not driven to despair, persecuted but not forsaken, struck down but not destroyed…” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9 NRSVue)
With full confidence in the love of God, the Ohio Council of Churches continues to bring people together as a Jesus Christ movement for unity, justice, and peace. In the name of Jesus and in collaboration with people of a variety of faiths, we are contributing to a future where gun violence is prevented, executions are halted, hunger is obsolete, and racism is overcome.
The Ohio Council of Churches is poised to continue its dynamic witness of Christian love in Ohio. However, we cannot do this without your help. We urgently need each of our friends to send an immediate donation of $20 or their best possible gift to help sustain the Council’s ministry. Ohio Council of Churches Donation Form
My friend, please help sustain the Ohio Council of Churches’ witness of unity, justice, and peace in Ohio. Please take a moment now to send us $20 or your best possible gift. Ohio Council of Churches Donation Form. May the love of God be with you.
With Hope,
Jack
The Rev. Dr. Jack Sullivan, Jr.
Executive Director
The Ohio Council of Churches
