OCA President Chris Long attended the White House observance of the National Day of Prayer on Thursday, May 3rd, at which President Trump signed the White House Faith and Opportunity Initiative Executive Order that will establish a faith-based office at the White House. CLICK HERE TO READ THE EXECUTIVE ORDER
Ohio Christian Alliance applauds the effort to advance religious liberty through this Executive Order. President Trump stated the initiative would focus on protecting religious liberty and ensuring that “the faith-based and community organizations that form the bedrock of our society have strong advocates in the White House and throughout the federal government." A number of faith leaders from across the country were in attendance to witness the signing.
Thanks to all who made the Spring Freedom Banquet a big success! (Here are the pics)
This year's Spring Freedom Banquet was a rousing success, thanks to the inspirational messages delivered by our speakers Bill Federer and Chad Connelly. The evening's focus centered on our support for the State of Israel, with a special recognition of the President's announcement to fulfill a long-standing commitment to the people of Israel to recognize Jerusalem as the Capitol of Israel. Next month, in recognition of the 70th year of the State of Israel, President Trump will dedicate the new U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem. OCA President Chris Long shared about his recent trip to Israel and how God is forging a unique bond between Christians and Jews. Joining Chris Long in presenting the OCA 2018 Freedom Award was Michael Goldstein, State Director of Proclaiming Justice to the Nations, the organization that is working with Ohio Christian Alliance for the passage of HCR 10
This week at the Ohio Statehouse, legislators and faith leaders joined together to address the sudden middle of the school closure of Ohio's largest online school, affecting 12,000 students, including 2,287 seniors. Tune in and tell a friend.
Statement from the Ohio Christian Alliance on the Moral Crisis at the Ohio Statehouse
A moral crisis has emerged at the Ohio Statehouse in recent weeks and requires the attention of people of goodwill to address it. The serious nature of the moral failures of some people who serve the public trust in their capacity as public servants has cast a dark shadow over The People's House. That is why we the undersigned urge a call to action. Here is what is known, according to recent media reports, and it is disturbing. - November 28th 2017 Click here for the full statement
School Choice in Ohio now at risk with the sudden closure of the online school ECOT.
A Statement from the Ohio Christian Alliance:
"On Thursday when the ODE (Ohio Department of Education) turned down the latest offer of restructured payments by ECOT school, they all but set in motion the immediate closure of the online institution ECOT schools. In doing so, they put in jeopardy the 12,000 students currently enrolled in the school. The magnitude of this decision is equivalent to a major Ohio school district being forced to close in the middle of the school year. State superintendent Paolo DeMaria and his administration had no contingency plan for these students. Parents and students are now scrambling to find other schools to enter, including the 2,287 seniors. This crisis could have been averted by the ODE and the Kasich administration. Their failure to provide a workable solution that would have at least finished the school year for ECOT and its students, is in our opinion gross incompetence and negligent. We would hope that this decision was not made for political purposes. That would be unconscionable as it is affecting so many school children who depend on this online Ohio school for their continuing education. We would hope that the legislature would act quickly to remedy this situation."
We agree with the following Statement by State Representative Andrew Brenner Chairman, Ohio House Education & Career Readiness Committee. "This could have been avoided had the department of education set up a payment plan that would have allowed the students to finish the school year at ECOT. I warned the Department of this months ago, so their lack of consideration makes me concerned about the long-term ramifications of School choice in Ohio. Since ECOT is now closing the Ohio Department of Education has the responsibility to make sure all 12,000 kids are quickly and properly placed into alternative situations."
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Addressing the Moral Crisis at the Ohio Statehouse – A Statement from the Ohio Christian Alliance
Tue, Nov 28th, 2017 10:29:32 am
A moral crisis has emerged at the Ohio Statehouse in recent weeks and requires the attention of people of goodwill to address it. The serious nature of the moral failures of some people who serve the public trust in their capacity as public servants has cast a dark shadow over The People's House. That is why we the undersigned urge a call to action. Here is what is known, according to recent media reports, and it is disturbing. Senator Cliff Hite of the 1st Ohio Senate District recently resigned because of his inappropriate contact with female staffers at the Ohio Statehouse. His seat is now vacant. It was then reported by the House leadership that Rep. Mike Henne had been ordered to undergo sensitivity training 2-1/2 years ago due to inappropriate remarks. The House has stated they will release the documents in relation to the incident, but have not yet done so. Then came the news of Ohio Senate Democratic chief of staff Michael Premo's sudden resignation, about which no details were provided by Democratic Senate leadership. Senate President Larry Obhof has requested to speak to the woman who filed the complaint against Premo. - Click here for the full statement
Government Accountability and Oversight Committee Passes HCR 10
Today, members of the Ohio Legislature took a positive step forward, pushing back against anti-Semitism by passing out of committee HCR 10, the resolution to condemn the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement against Israel and to condemn increasing incidents of anti-Semitism on Ohio college campuses.
OCA President Chris Long stated, "The Ohio Christian Alliance is pleased to lend its support to this resolution that Representatives Andy Thompson and David Greenspan, along with 25 other co-sponsors, have signed on to.
In a major breach of protocol, the State of the State Address by Governor Kasich before a joint session of the Ohio General Assembly in Marietta last week, did not open with a prayer from the clergy. OCA President Chris Long who was in attendance recounted, "There was a call to order by the Speaker of the House and Senate President, a call to quorum, the presentation of colors by the Honor Guard, and then the Senate President looked down at his notes as to what was next on the program. .......
Ohio Christian Alliance Urges Delay of Implementation of Online Voter Registration in Ohio to Safeguard Ohio's Vote S.B. 63, the online voter registration bill, has raised concerns that it may further threaten Ohio's election integrity. Ohio's elections process has been under some scrutiny over the past several years due to an increase in reported voter fraud cases, referenced in the Ohio SOS Post-Election Voter Fraud Reports May 2013, SOS December 2013 Report "Non-U.S. Citizens Register and Vote in the Battleground State of Ohio", SOS report March 12, 2015 in which it was reported that 436 non-U.S. citizens were registered to vote in Ohio, 44 of whom actually cast ballots, and the June 25, 2015 SOS report "14 Individuals Referred for Investigation for Allegedly Illegally Voting." Additionally, Franklin County reported more than 90 cases of double voting in the 2012 Presidential Election .....
WWII Memorial Prayer Act Signed Into Law by The President
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 1, 2014 It's official – The President has signed The WWII Memorial Prayer Act (S1044) into law. Earlier this month, the bill passed The U.S. Senate in a unanimous consent measure just in time for the 70th anniversary observance of the D-Day Landings. Last week, The U.S. House of Representatives passed the measure overwhelmingly by a vote of 370-12, and yesterday, The President signed the bill into law. The Ohio Christian Alliance would like to commend the bill's sponsors, Senator Rob Portman (OH) and Senator Mary Landrieu (LA), and Congressman Bill Johnson of Ohio's 6th District, who was the House sponsor, for their support of this historic legislation that will add FDR's D-Day Landing prayer to the WWII memorial in Washington D.C.
