On March 23, Diocesan Council voted to endorse the Citizens Not Politicians initiative “to create a fair, unbiased, and transparent process for creating Ohio’s electoral maps.”
The Council’s resolution acknowledges that The Episcopal Church has long championed civil rights and opposed gerrymandering, citing Resolution D003 of the 2018 General Convention, which read, “That in accordance with Executive Council Resolution AN033 adopted October 25, 2017, the 79th General Convention of The Episcopal Church reaffirms that one person one vote means that the votes of all citizens of all races and ethnicities are fairly represented, counted and accounted for; that we oppose any form of partisan gerrymandering which has the same effect of racial gerrymandering.”
Ohio is now conducting elections using state and Congressional district maps ruled unconstitutional by the Ohio Supreme Court for excessive partisan gerrymandering. The resolution passed by Diocesan Council supports an effort to create new districts in the next two years.
“The Citizens Not Politicians initiative provides a tremendous opportunity to create fair, representative electoral districts in time for the 2026 election. It is our most direct and effective way to promote the protections for social justice that are essential to Becoming Beloved Community,” Kyle Väth, a member of Diocesan Council from Christ Church Cathedral and the resolution’s sponsor, said. “Our diocese’s public support for the nonpartisan Citizens Not Politicians constitutional amendment is intended to show Ohio citizens what our faith community stands for in our Baptismal vows: seeking and serving Christ in all persons, striving for justice and peace among all people, and respecting the dignity of every human being.”
To learn more about this proposed amendment, go to citizensnotpoliticians.org. To find local events where voters can sign the petition to qualify Citizens Not Politicians for the ballot, or to volunteer, visit the home page of Fair Districts Ohio and scroll down.
Support the Restoration of Fair Districts in Ohio
Resolution adopted by Diocesan Council of the Diocese of Southern Ohio on March 23, 2024
Whereas the Episcopal Church has long championed civil rights, and opposes gerrymandering, writing in Resolution 2018-D003, “That in accordance with Executive Council Resolution AN033 adopted October 25, 2017, the 79th General Convention of The Episcopal Church reaffirms that one person one vote means that the votes of all citizens of all races and ethnicities are fairly represented, counted and accounted for; that we oppose any form of partisan gerrymandering which has the same effect of racial gerrymandering;”
and;
Whereas Ohio is now conducting elections using state and Congressional district maps ruled unconstitutional by the Ohio Supreme Court for excessive partisan gerrymandering,
and;
Whereas all members of the 2021-22 Redistricting Commission were elected officials who defied seven Supreme Court rulings ordering them to correct the imbalance, and;
Whereas a broad non-partisan coalition of citizens including the League of Women Voters, Common Cause Ohio, the Ohio Council of Churches, and A. Philip Randolph League, is now collecting petition signatures to qualify a proposed constitutional amendment called Citizens Not Politicians for the November ballot, and;
Whereas Citizens Not Politicians, if approved by voters, will prohibit elected officials, party officials, and lobbyists from serving on the Redistricting Commission, and create a redistricting process with safeguards for fairness and transparency in drawing maps, and;
Whereas the Diocese of Southern Ohio has made Becoming Beloved Community – which includes protecting civil rights, fair elections, and racial equity – the heart of our mission,
Be it resolved that the Diocese of Southern Ohio endorses the Citizens Not Politicians initiative to create a fair, unbiased, and transparent process for creating Ohio’s electoral maps.
