Leading clergymen representing 106 congregations across North Central Ohio held a press conference at the Richland County Courthouse earlier this month calling for a restoration of religious freedom and an end to judicial tyranny.
Standing outside the very courthouse where a poster with the words of the Ten Commandments was ordered taken down by a federal judge in 2001, five pastors stood together on Friday with a ninety pound depiction of the Ten Commandments on prominent display.
The clergymen released an open letter sent to Ohio Congressional members and state lawmakers sounding the alarm over federal court injunctions that silence voters and judicial prejudice directed against citizens of faith.
Reverend J.C. Church, Leading Pastor of Victory in Truth Ministries and a Director with the Family Research Council asked, “Why have a Legislature when one elected judge can strike down any law that does not fit his political agenda? Unaccountable judges in the Federal court system have suppressed the voices of freedom in our nation- starting with people of religious conviction. Judicial supremacy has ultimately created a culture of dictatorship.”
The clergy letter boldly declared “Absent of any constitutionality, these 600 unelected bureaucrats are silencing voters by establishing their own court opinions as law of the land, and micromanaging public policy against the will of the governed.”
One example the clergy letter cited was a recent case in March 2018 when unelected Federal Court Judge Timothy Black struck down an Ohio law passed by eighty-four elected state officials prohibiting abortion of unborn babies with Down syndrome. Black stated that the court opinion Roe v. Wade was actually the law of the land and could not be rescinded.
The clergy pointed out that Black should have recused himself since he was a former Director of Planned Parenthood, writing, “We do not excuse Judge Black’s conflict of interest, and we believe Judge Black’s politically-biased arguments justifying the taking of life are unbecoming for a federal judge and hold no merit.”
Reverend Aaron Rose of Fusion Community Church called Timothy Black’s opinion “a gross overreach of the judiciary, coming from somebody with obvious political bias.”
Rose shared how he and his wife have raised their ten year old son Kaleb who was diagnosed with Down syndrome.
“After Kaleb was born, geneticists said our baby would have diminished quality of life and that we would grieve our child as if losing our son; I was shell-shocked that those were the first words that exited his mouth.
“My son will be 11 years old this Christmas and he is a healthy child. He is here today because he is normal- he will do anything to miss school. Kaleb sings almost every morning at the top of his lungs. He hugs you when you are sad and he hugs when you are happy. His favorite gift to receive is potato chips and Hershey chocolate. This is what we would have missed if Kaleb had not entered this world.”
Rose went on to say, “No one told us these things because they are not the science of Down syndrome, but they are the truth of Down syndrome. Today, I stand not just for my son but for the voiceless who may never be given a chance to breathe air. Our quality of life as a family has increased ten-fold because of our son. I would not change one thing about my son Kaleb.”
As the clergymen publicly read the correspondence, Reverend John Bouquet of Bethel Baptist, Reverend DeWayne Smith of Main Street Methodist, and Reverend El Akuchie of the Richland Community Prayer Network quoted Bible verses from Psalms 94:20-22 about wicked rulers devising evil by law and Isaiah 1.26 regarding the restoration of righteous judges.
The clergy believe that reliance on the Ten Commandments as a social compact for a multicultural nation can unify the country and reduce the need for a federal judiciary.
Constitutional truths listed in the letter for the legislators to ponder included that federal judges do not serve for life but only during good behavior and only serve “from time to time” as Congress “ordains and establishes.” Also noted was that the term “separation of church and state” does not exist in the Constitution.
Several dignitaries attending the press conference included Judge James DeWeese, County Commissioner Marilyn John, Chief Civil Assistant County Prosecutor Andrew Keller and Tammie Puff, Regional Director representing Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine.
Benjamin Mutti is a coordinator with the Richland Community Prayer Network based in Richland County, Ohio and is a faith-based advocate for the advancement of family values within culture.
May 20, 2018 Day of Pentecost
An open letter by Ohio clergymen calling for defiance to federal court tyranny
Dear Ohio Congressmen and Ohio State Legislature,
On Dec. 22, 2017, Ohio Governor John Kasich signed the Non-Discrimination Act outlawing selective abortions performed on children diagnosed with Down syndrome. Unfortunately, on March 14, 2018, one un-elected U.S. District Court Judge, Mr. Timothy Black, struck down Ohio’s law ratified by eighty-four elected state officials. Judge Black who previously was the Director and President of Planned Parenthood of Cincinnati stated in his opinion:
“The woman’s right to terminate her pregnancy before viability is the most central principle of Roe v. Wade. It is a rule of law and a component of liberty we cannot renounce.” (1)
Psalms 94:20-22 states: “Shall the throne of iniquity, which devises evil by law, have fellowship with you? They gather together against the life of the righteous, and condemn innocent blood. But the LORD has been my defense, and my GOD the rock of my refuge. ”
As clergymen representing one hundred and six (106) congregations across North Central Ohio, we do not excuse Judge Black’s conflict of interest, and we believe Judge Black’s politically-biased arguments justifying the taking of life are unbecoming for a federal judge and hold no merit.
Nowhere does the Constitution permit federal court opinions or U. S. Supreme Court decisions like Roe v. Wade to be supreme law of the land.
According to Article 6, Clause 2 of the U.S. Constitution, “This Constitution, and the laws of the United States which shall be made in pursuance thereof; and all treaties made, or which shall be made, under the authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land.”
Furthermore, the eighty-four state officials of the executive and legislative branches take an oath to uphold the Constitution; they do not take an oath of subservience to federal judiciary opinion.
We the People-the governed, by our consent, created the states. The states, in turn, through the Constitutional Convention, created the Constitution and the Constitution created the federal government, including the Supreme Court and inferior Federal Courts. Therefore the Supreme Court and inferior Federal Courts are subservient to the Constitution.
This egregious inferior Federal Court opinion highlights the ongoing constitutional crisis where the government has enabled the judiciary to implement a “Federal Court Tyranny.” Absent of any constitutionality, these 600 unelected bureaucrats are silencing voters by establishing their own court opinions as law of the land, and micromanaging public policy against the will of the governed.
While there were no nationwide injunctions by inferior Federal Courts for the first 175 years of the Republic, there have been 22 nationwide injunctions by inferior Federal Courts ordering the entire federal government to not enforce executive branch policy or statute in the first year of Donald Trump’s presidency alone! (2)
By the same token, the Supreme Court ignored 187 years of court precedent when it gave its baseless opinion that religious and moral teachings from the Bible in public schools could cause psychological damage. (3) And the Supreme Court’s opinion that students should not be allowed to even see the Ten Commandments in public schools ignored policy from the first 204 years of the Republic. (4) Clearly the opinions of the federal judiciary have shown an open hostility to religious freedoms by not tolerating the practice of religion in nearly every public setting.
Because of its prejudice against the faith community, it is our firm conviction that the federal judiciary should be resisted since it neither has supremacy over the executive and legislative branches nor does it have the authority to enforce over citizens the “separation of church and state,” a phrase that marginalizes leading voices of freedom and does not even exist in the Constitution.
Please consider the following to address our nation’s Constitutional crisis including the Judge Black verdict:
1) Article 3, Section 1 of the Constitution states, Supreme Court judges and inferior Federal Court judges do not serve for life, but rather only “during good behavior.”
2) Article 3, Section 1 of the Constitution states inferior Federal Courts only serve “from time to time” as Congress “ordains and establishes.”
3) The Judiciary Act of 1789 states the Department of Justice of the Executive Branch determines the enforcement of rulings by the Supreme Court and inferior Federal Courts thru U.S. Marshals.
4) The First Amendment of the U.S. Bill of Rights states that the free exercise of religion “shall not be prohibited” by the government (or Congress).
In summary, application of these constitutional truths will allow state governments, and also the Executive and Legislative branches of the federal government to govern freely without capitulating to the federal judiciary. Furthermore, it is also the promotion of the Ten Commandments in public life that will reduce the need for a federal judiciary. Perhaps this is why there are more than fifty depictions of the Ten Commandments in the U.S. Supreme Court building. (5)
In other words, the antidote to federal judicial tyranny is a society with the Ten Commandments as the social compact unifying our multicultural people, and self-restraint replacing government constraint.
In conclusion, the Day of Pentecost is the anniversary that many faith traditions believe the Ten Commandments and the Holy Spirit were both divinely given to a diverse people. Today we are calling for Congress and our state legislature to restore religious freedom and end judicial tyranny. If as elected leaders you resist judicial supremacy, then as Isaiah 1:26 states: the Heavenly Father will “restore your judges as at the first, and your counselors as at the beginning: afterward you shall be called, the city of righteousness, the faithful city.”
Sincerely,
Rev. J.C. Church, Victory in Truth Ministries
Rev. Mark Dettmer, Pleasant Grove Community
Rev. El Akuchie, Richland Community Prayer Network
Rev. James Hill, Paradise View Freewill Baptist
Rev. John Bouquet, Savannah Bethel Baptist
Rev. Don Wilson, Mansfield Faith Assembly
Rev. Randy Raynes, Mansfield Fellowship Baptist
Rev. Larry Hulver, Lexington New Liberty Baptist
Rev. Jerry Laudermilk, Ontario Abundant Life
Rev. James Marshall, Ganges Community
Rev. James Spencer, Peoples’ Baptist
Rev. Jeff Mills, Shelby Living Stone Community
Rev. Henry Bradley, New Community Temple COGIC
Rev. Steve Schag, Shelby Calvary Baptist
Rev. David Green, Mansfield Sovereign Baptist
Rev. Les Vnasdale, Cornerstone Grace Brethren
Rev. Bill Henderson, Bellville First Baptist
Rev. Robert Kurtz. Mansfield Baptist Temple
Rev. Eric Byrom, Mansfield Grace Fellowship
Rev. Patrick Bailey, North Bend Church Brethren
Rev. Keith Carlisle, Ontario First Wesleyan
Rev. Phil Green, Real Life Community
Rev. Rick Lewis, Shelby Church of GOD
Rev. Art Kennard, Maranatha Christian Center
Rev. Russell Stanford, All Believers in Christ
Rev. Mark Meyer, Lexington Gracepoint Sanctuary
Rev. DeWayne Smith, Main Street United Methodist
Rev. Mike Workman, Caeserea Baptist
Rev. Doug Tackett, Taylortown Community
Rev. George Lewis, Shelby Temple of GOD
Rev. Ted Howard, Apostolic Holiness
Rev. Ferlie Yates, Hanna Road Church of GOD
Rev. William Crank, Cornerstone Freewill Baptist
Rev. Floyd Allen, Philippian Community
Rev. Brian Phillips, New Beginnings Freewill Baptist
Rev. Bruce Phillipi, Journey Life Center
Rev. Hank Webb, Belmont Ave. Community
Rev. Ron Puff, Pleasant Valley Baptist
Rev. Darrin Thurber, Seventh Day Adventist
Rev. Dallas Waggle, Lucas Foursquare Gospel
Rev. Kevin Evans, Ganges Liberty Baptist
Rev. Les Farley, My Father’s House
Rev. Bryan Graham, Shiloh Wesleyan Evangelical
Rev. David Guild, Mansfield Foursquare Gospel
Rev. Anthony Cooper, Shelby Life Church
Rev. Matthew Pond, First Freewill Baptist
Rev. Bill Howell, Shiloh Messiah House of Prayer
Rev. Sylvester Ginn, Hesed Agape Fellowship
Rev. Glenn Phillips, Hillside First Church of GOD
Rev. Tim Davis, Newville Baptist
Rev. Dink Porter, First Church of the Open Bible
Rev. Chris Thomas, Diamond Hills Baptist
Rev. Walter Keib, Shelby First Baptist
Rev. John Grimm, Shiloh United Methodist
Rev. John Grimm, Plymouth United Methodist
Rabbi William Hallbrook, Mansfield Messianic
Rev. Jody Odom, Mansfield Ambassadors for Christ
Rev. Steve Baldridge, Rome Community
Rev. Bill Fisher, Mansfield Grace Temple
Rev. David Ferrell, Mansfield Holiness Chapel
Rev. Aaron Rose, Lexington Fusion Church
Rev. Jim Streib, Lexington Fusion Branch Church
Rev. David Howell, Power House Worship Center
Rev. John Campos, Bowman Street Church of GOD
Rev. Ron Smalls, Woodville Grace Brethren
Rev. Rich Hurles, Plymouth LifePoint Community
Elder Mark Hamilton, Providence Church
Rev. Paul Lintern, Oakland Lutheran
Rev. Paul Lintern Southside Christian
Rev. Jim Luederman, Vermillion Baptist
Rev. Mike Stine, Clear Fork Alliance
Rabbi Robert Bauer, Beit El Elyon
Rev. Mike Wilson, Lincoln Heights Baptist
Rev. Richard Aites, Abundant Grace Fellowship
Rev. Paul Mathewson, Maranatha Bible Baptist
Rev. Joe Smith, Westside Baptist
Rev. Troy Wooten, Christian Life Center
Rev. Bill Lewis, Butler River of Life
Rev. Clarence Sanderfer, New Life Baptist
Rev. Clyde Kerby, Ministries of Hope & Healing
Rev. Louis Blevins, Latter Rain COGIC
Rev. Robert O’Brien, Apostolic Faith Assembly
Rev. Floyd Glick, First Church of Nazarene
Rev. T.J. Waters, Lexington Church of Christ
Rev. Bruce Copley, Faith Chapel
Rev. Daniel Baer, Mansfield Gospel Assembly
Rev. Howdie Burnette, Perrysville Baptist
Rev. Aaron Williams Jr., Maddox Memorial Temple
Rev. Mark Abel, Southview Grace Brethren
Rev. Larry Hill, Bethel Freewill Baptist
Rev. Ron Kosa, Living Word Church
Rev. Mark Wireman, Shiloh Pentecostal
Rev. Scott Maglott, Lexington Church of the Nazarene
Rev. Ronnie Conn, Elm Street Freewill Baptist
Rev. Walt Jordan, Mansfield Oasis of Love
Rev. David Parsons, Zion’s Refuge Baptist
Rev. Robert Ratcliff, North Woodbury Freewill Baptist
Rev. Steve Brenneman, Awakening Christian Center
Rev. Jason Price, Mansfield Victory Baptist
Rev. Steve Burkhalter, Potter’s House Mansfield
Rev. David Mahon, Apostolic Assemblies of Galion
Rev. Darryle Moody, Cardington Church of the Nazarene
Rev. Joe Maggelet, Ashland Fellowship Christian Athletes
Bishop Eli Miller, Amish Perry District 2
Bishop Owen Detweiler, Batemantown Amish District
Bishop Andy Keim, Amish Perry District 1
Rev. Caesar Coney, Mansfield Christ Temple Church
REFERENCES
(1) “Federal Judge Puts the Brakes on Ohio Abortion Ban,” CBN News, March 18, 2018 http://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2018/march/federal-judge-puts-the-brakes-on-ohio-abortion-ban
(2) “Jeff Sessions slams federal judges for issuing nationwide injunctions hindering Trump’s agenda,” by Melissa Quinn, March 10, 2018, https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/jeff-sessions-slams-federal-judges-for-issuing-nationwide-injunctions-hindering-trumps-agenda/article/2651260
(3) U.S. Supreme Court decision: Abington School District v. Schempp on June 17, 1963 “If portions of the New Testament were read without explanation, they could be…psychologically harmful to the child”
(4) U.S. Supreme Court decision: Stone v. Graham on Nov. 17, 1980
(5) “Historic Displays of the Ten Commandments,” video by Liberty Counsel, published September 17, 2009, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8X13cYNxDY
Cc: U.S. President Donald Trump
U.S. Speaker of House Paul Ryan
U.S. Senate Maj. Leader Mitch McConnell
Ohio Governor John Kasich
Ohio Senator Rob Portman
Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown
