Pastoral Petition for H.B. 370
Introduction
History has always borne witness to the fidelity of men of God to the word of God. In 1603, the Millenary Petition was sent to King James I, calling for further reform in the Church of England. The petition was authored by Puritans, and signed by 1,000 ministers. In 1934, 139 delegates representing various churches across Germany signed the Barmen Declaration, a theological confession that was meant to repudiate Nazi oppression, and the encroachment of Nazism in the German Church.
Today, we have need of such a moment of fidelity.
In June of 2025, House Bill 370, the Ohio Prenatal Equal Protection Act, was introduced in the Ohio House. If signed into law, H.B. 370 would abolish abortion, and stop the shedding of innocent blood.
By signing this petition, pastors in Ohio have an opportunity to give public testimony to the lordship of Christ Jesus, and to the sanctity of the image of God.
We plan to present this petition to the legislature and to the people of Ohio at the appropriate time.
May history bear witness to the fidelity of Ohio’s shepherds.
Pastoral Petition for H.B. 370
Whereas in the Word of God, the preborn are clearly considered to be human beings (Exodus 21:22–25; Judges 16:17; Psalm 22:10; Job 3:3, 11–16, 31:18; Luke 1:36, 41),
Whereas in the Word of God, Almighty God forbids the the intentional killing of innocent human life (Exodus 20:13), and ordains government to preserve and protect life (Genesis 9:6, Jeremiah 22:1–3 Romans 13:1–7),
Whereas in 2023, the Right to Make Reproductive Decisions Including Abortion Initiative established a constitutional right to abortion in Ohio in contradiction to the supreme moral law of God,
Whereas in failing to protect preborn persons, the State of Ohio has abdicated the most basic duty of government, namely, the securing for all persons the inalienable right to life,
Whereas H.B. 370 acknowledges the personhood of the preborn, and upholds the sanctity of innocent human life created in the image of God,
Whereas H.B. 370 would establish justice by granting to preborn persons the same legal protections that born persons have, and thus, abolish abortion entirely in the state of Ohio,
Whereas it is the duty of the Christian to love their neighbor as their very own self (Matt 22:39), to seek justice for the wronged, and intercede for the perishing (Isaiah 1:17, 58:6–7, 10, Proverbs 24:11, James 1:27)
Whereas it is incumbent upon pastors, as undershepherds of Christ’s Church, to lead their flocks in the example of love, and to proclaim the good news of God’s kingdom in Christ,
I, the undersigned, wholeheartedly and unequivocally support H.B. 370, the Ohio Prenatal Equal Protection Act, and urge our esteemed and honorable legislature to give passage to it out of obedience to King Jesus.
Sign the Petition
Signers
John Marino
Pastor, Cross View Church
Orrville, Ohio
Rev. William Coley
Pastor, Parkman Congregational Church
Middlefield, Ohio
BJ Newman
Pastor, Little Miami Fellowship
Xenia, Ohio
Matthew Mager
Pastor, Sovereign Grace Chapel
Youngstown, Ohio
Joseph Boehler
Minister, Blanchard Reformed Orthodox Presbyterian Church
Findlay, Ohio
Joshua Steiner
Pastor, Orrville Grace Brethren Church
Orrville, Ohio
Kris Theobald
Senior Pastor, Kerusso Baptist Church
Hamilton, Ohio
Roy Stinson
Lead Pastor, Living Faith Church
College Corner, Ohio
Andy Powell
Pastor, Germantown Baptist Chapel
Franklin, Ohio
Michael Byrd
Pastor, Eternal Life Baptist Church
Hamilton, Ohio
Scott Long
Pastor, Substance Church
Ashland, Ohio
Chris Early
Pastor, Koinos Church
Troy, Ohio
Ken Henderson
Pastor, Quest Church
Middletown, Ohio
Tyler Detrick
Pastor, Light of the Nations Orthodox Presbyterian Church
Dayton, Ohio
Matt Schiesser
Senior Pastor, Calvary Baptist Church
Marysville, Ohio
Shawn Carafa
Pastor, Hudson Presbyterian Church
Hudson, Ohio
Jordan Atkinson
Pastor, Friendship Baptist Church
Harveysburg, Ohio
Michael A Matejka
Associate Pastor, Calvary Bible Church
Cortland, Ohio
Robert Palacio
Elder, Cornerstone Bible Church
Xenia, Ohio
Tanner Fixari
Chaplain, New Albany Presbyterian Church
New Albany, Ohio
Jake Taube
Pastor, King’s Church
Franklin, Ohio
Mark Rice
Pastor, Medina Bible Church
Medina, Ohio
Eric Sipe
Senior Pastor, Calvary Bible Church
Columbus, Ohio
Timothy Paulding
Teaching Pastor, Grace Church of Rootstown
Rootstown, Ohio
Joseph Divelbiss
Pastor, Berean Baptist Church
Pickerington, Ohio
Rick Thompson
Associate Pastor, Hillside Baptist Church
Rittman, Ohio
Steve Bush
Pastor, Covenant Church
Millersport, Ohio
Michael Lehman
Pastor, Abiding Faith Bible Church
Columbia Station, Ohio
Jason Hayslett
Associate Pastor, Brunswick Community Church
Brunswick, Ohio
Joshua Steinke
Pastor, Living Hope Worship Center
St. Mary’s, Ohio
Tim Benjamin
Pastor, Wayne Street Church
St. Mary’s, Ohio
Dane Gilmore
Pastor, Calvary Christian Fellowship
St. Mary’s, Ohio
Michael Foster
Senior Pastor, East River Church
Batavia, Ohio
Nate Beaman
Associate Pastor of Family Life Ministries, First Baptist Church
Troy, Ohio
Jeffrey Smith
Senior Pastor, Pleasant Hill Baptist Church
Milford, Ohio
Michael Mitchell
Pastor, Cornerstone Fellowship of DeGraff
Sidney, Ohio
Andrew Shearer
Pastor, Maranatha Baptist Church
Columbus, Ohio
Ashton Walton
Pastor, The Bridge
Logan, Ohio
Randy Surface
Pastor of Discipleship and Music, Maranatha Community Church
Pickerington, Ohio
Rob Kane
Lead Pastor, Citizens Church
Westerville, Ohio
Michael Avery
President, Deeper Life Ministries
Cincinnati, Ohio
John Gray
Elder/Pastor, Grace Christian Fellowship
Dayton, Ohio
Nathan Johnson
Elder, Maranatha Community Church
Pickerington, Ohio
John Michael LaRue
Lead Pastor, The Bridge Church
Miamisburg, Ohio
Bryan Rioch
Elder, Cornerstone Church
Sidney, Ohio
Nicholas Kallis
Pastor, Oikos Community Church
Galloway, Ohio
Doug Brown
Head Pastor, Monterey Baptist Church
Batavia, Ohio
Douglas Wood
Elder/Pastor, Little Miami Fellowship
Xenia, Ohio
Logan Ramsey
Pastor, New Hope Baptist Church
Middleburg Heights, Ohio
Michael Diercks
Elder, Providence Orthodox Presbyterian Church
Pataskala, Ohio
David Haarmeyer
Pastor, East River Road Baptist Church
Fairfield, Ohio
John Wallen
Senior Pastor, Stahlheber Baptist Church
Hamilton, Ohio
Rick Schroer
Pastor, Faith Baptist Church
Cincinnati, Ohio
Vernon Williams
Pastor, Nilles Pointe Baptist Church
Fairfield, Ohio
Joe McIntosh
Pastor, The Well Bible Church
Hamilton, Ohio
Justin Rahmes
Lead Pastor, Sacred Mission Church
Mason, Ohio
Aaron Simpson
Pastor, Freedom House
Hamilton, Ohio
Dave Sudduth
Elder/Pastor, Fearless Church
Centerville, Ohio
Jake Day
Pastor, Freedom Baptist Church
Hamilton, Ohio
Rudy Allen
Pastor, Oxford Baptist Church
Oxford, Ohio
Kevin Poole
Elder, Cornerstone Bible Church
Xenia, Ohio
Kyle Springer
Administrative Pastor, New Covenant Community Church
Johnstown, Ohio
Brandon Byler
Pastor, Calvary Bible Church
Cortland, Ohio
Jeff Beisel
Lead Pastor, Maranatha Community Church
Pickerington, Ohio
Jamie Wellman
Pastor, Piqua Baptist Church
Piqua, Ohio
Nick Allen
Teaching Pastor, Elevation Community Church
Blanchester, Ohio
Mark Pitman
Pastor, Bridgewater Community Church
Bryan, Ohio
Brian Pettit
Senior Pastor, Journey Church of Columbus
Plain City, Ohio
Eric W Fairhurst
Pastor, Southside Community Church
Wooster, Ohio
J.A. Littler
Lead Pastor, Faith Baptist Church of Streetsboro
Streetsboro, Ohio
Jeremy Burns
Pastor, Berea Baptist Church
Kenton, Ohio
Joe Williams
Pastor, Victory Baptist Church
Lodi, Ohio
Jeremy Draper
Elder, Grace and Truth Church of Cincinnati
Norwood, Ohio
Ryan Liebert
Pastor, Grace and Truth Church of Cincinnati
Norwood, Ohio
Mark Thogmartin
Associate Pastor, Millersport Covenant Church
Millersport, Ohio
Parker Miley
Pastor, Walnut Grove Church
St. Mary’s, Ohio
Zachary Wyse
Pastor, Ascension Reformed Church
Cincinnati, Ohio
Josh Rosentreter
Lead Pastor, Redemption Hill Church
Columbus, Ohio
Richard Inman
Lead Pastor, Faith Baptist Church
Sidney, Ohio
Randy Reed
Chaplain, Wilson Hospice
Sidney, Ohio
Micah Rice
Associate Pastor, Pickerington Baptist Temple
Pickerington, Ohio
Austin Peto
Worship & Student Ministries Pastor, Christian Alliance Church
Willard, Ohio
Chris Harkness
Pastor, Uniontown Baptist Church
Roseville, Ohio
Justin Rolston
Elder, Maranatha Community Church
Pickerington, Ohio
Timothy Keep
Elder, New Life Community Church
Cincinnati, Ohio
Jon DeBolt
Recovery Pastor, New Life Community Church
Cincinnati, Ohio
Michael Mater
Lead Pastor, New Life Community Church
Cincinnati, Ohio
John Maze
Senior Pastor, Agape Bible Fellowship
Dayton, Ohio
Michael Roe
Senior Pastor, Valley Chapel Community Church
Fairfield, Ohio
Dod Noffsinger
Elder, Cornerstone Church
Sidney, Ohio
Matt Timmons
Teaching Pastor, Hopewell Church
Ashland, Ohio
Joseph Yerger
Senior Pastor, Mansfield 1st Presbyterian Church
Mansfield, Ohio
Daniel Funke
Pastor, Oikos Community Church
Galloway, Ohio
James Pilcher
Pastor/Elder, Reformation Bible Church
Beach City, Ohio
Jamie Barrett
Lead Pastor, Poiema Church
Medina, Ohio
Brad Jones
Senior Pastor, Living Water Church
Kingston, Ohio
Andrew Hancock
Lead Pastor, Allison Avenue Baptist Church
Hamilton, Ohio
Tim Smith
Pastor, First Baptist Church of Trenton
Trenton, Ohio
Mark Crary
Pastor, Somerville Community Church
Somerville, Ohio
Greg Jackson
Senior Pastor, Camden First Southern Baptist Church
Camden, Ohio
Errico Ianniello
Pastor, Sacred Mission Church
Mason, Ohio
David Saxton
Pastor, Cambridge Bible Church
Cambridge, Ohio
Jeff Grubbs
Group Life Pastor, First Light Church
Vandalia, Ohio
Steve Ham
Pastor, Grace and Truth Church Cincinnati
Norwood, Ohio
Jason Waeber
Pastor, Foothills Reformed Church
Winchester, Ohio
Joseph Sheely
Senior Pastor, Solid Rock Community Church
Salem, Ohio
Dr. John Rataczak
Chaplain, Toledo Gospel Rescue Mission
Toledo, Ohio
Edward Comperry
Elder, Cornerstone Bible Church
Xenia, Ohio
Dana Kidder
Lead Pastor, Redemption Bible Church
Bellefontaine, Ohio
Fred Pugh
Senior Pastor (ret), Grace Covenant Church
Parma, Ohio
Brian Wonn
Pastor, First Baptist Church of Urbana
Urbana, Ohio
Sean Yusten
Pastor, Norton Baptist Church
Urbana, Ohio
Walfrido Contreras
Senior Pastor, First Baptist Church of Gahanna
Gahanna, Ohio
Roscoe Heath
Pastor, New Praise Ministries
Euclid, Ohio
Rick Bowman
Pastor, First Baptist Church of Tallmadge
Tallmadge, Ohio
Michael Clary
Lead Pastor, Christ the King Church
Cincinnati, Ohio
Rocky Smith
Youth Leader, Tri County Church of the Nazarene
West Chester Township, Ohio
Robert Kuhns
Pastor (retired), Hope Baptist Church
Uniontown, Ohio
Steve Minter
Pastor, Piqua Baptist Church
Greenville, Ohio
Anthony Smith
Pastor, Revive Baptist Church
London, Ohio
Jules Schieferstein
Pastor, Bloom Baptist Church
Lithopolis, Ohio
Brent Phillips
Pastor, Piqua Baptist Church
Piqua, Ohio
Raymond Druckenmiller
Pastor, Grace Community Church of Carrollton
Carrollton, Ohio
Steven Leopold
Assistant Pastor, Grace Christian Fellowship
Dayton, Ohio
Ben Kelly
Pastor, Reconciliation Church
Batavia, Ohio
Sam Flynn
Senior Pastor, Redeeming Grace Bible Church
Ashland, Ohio
David Appelt
Pastor, Maranatha Community Church
Canal Winchester, Ohio
Jordan Kosinski
Lead Pastor, Grace Church
Galena, Ohio
Garrison Greene
Lead Pastor, Veritas Community Church
Dayton, Ohio
Travis Johnson
Lead Pastor, Findlay Bible Methodist
Findlay, Ohio
Chris Cravens
President, Bible Methodist Connextion of Churches
Arlington, Ohio
Jeremy Appelt
Pastor, Maranatha Community Church
Canal Winchester, Ohio
Nathan Esposito
Pastor, Medway Baptist Church
Medway, Ohio
Zachariah Singletary
Pastor, Hope Baptist Church
Akron, Ohio