1983-2023: A Story of God’s Faithfulness
We’re Celebrating 40 Years of God’s Faithfulness!
Since 1983, Center for Christian Virtue (CCV) has stared down giants and seemingly insurmountable odds in numerous cultural battles. From a seed that was planted in the basement of College Hills Presbyterian Church in Cincinnati, we’ve become one of the largest Christian public policy organizations in the country—a growth that is only possible with God guiding and nourishing us throughout the years.
This year, we're rejoicing in God's faithfulness to sustain CCV for four decades and praising Him for the faithful men and women who have helped seek the good of our neighbors by advocating for public policy that reflects the truth of the gospel. Because devoted brothers and sisters in Christ sacrificially stood up for children and for God's word, CCV has made a generational impact on Ohio.
Entering the Fight
As the pornography epidemic swept through Cincinnati in the early 1980s, Dr. Jerry Kirk saw the devastating impact it had on the community—particularly families and children. He couldn’t remain silent on the issue and united concerned families and fellow pastors from local congregations to fight back against the porn industry.
Local community activists like Susan Bell, Kathy Woods, Pastor Clyde Miller, and Linda Prince, helped established the group that came to be known as Citizens for Community Values—or CCV.
Community activists taking a stand against strip bars and pornography.
Expanding the Mission
A few years later in 1991, Phil Burress was named the organization’s President. Under Phil's leadership, CCV established the model for Christians, churches, and community leaders to fight important cultural battles. CCV not only opposed pornography, but also took a lead role in advocating for life, religious freedom, families, and marriage between one man and one woman.
As CCV stepped to the forefront of these battles, we aligned with Focus on the Family, Family Research Council, and Alliance Defending Freedom to become Ohio’s Family Policy Council.
In 2004, CCV successfully led the marriage amendment campaign to define marriage in the Ohio constitution as only the union of one man and one woman. The amendment passed with more than 61 percent of the vote.
Phil Burress speaking at the Campaign for Marriage press conference. The displayed boxes contain the signatures they gathered from all 88 Ohio counties.
Continuing the Call
In 2016, after 25 years of faithful service to Ohio families, Phil Burress retired and the CCV Board of Directors chose Aaron Baer to build on a foundation of 30 years of success and take on the challenges facing Ohio today.
Under Aaron's leadership, CCV has most recently:
Led the effort to enact the Heartbeat Bill. (Below left: )
Launched Ohio's only Christian Chamber of Commerce—the Christian Business Partnership.
Expanded school choice programs so more families can access Christ-centered
education.Successfully defeated Lucas County in Court after they tried to infringe upon the
religious liberty of Christian schools and families during the COVID pandemic.Created a Scholarship Granting Organization that received more than $1.7 million in donations to assist children seeking a Christian education.
Planted our first school in a church—Westside Christian School in the Columbus Hilltop neighborhood.
Left: Governor Mike DeWine signs the Heartbeat Bill into law in 2019. Aaron and Maria Baer and their two daughters are on the left.
Middle: Westside Christian School classroom on the first day of school in the fall of 2022.
Right: CCV’s three recent Chairmen pose with Aaron and Phil. Left to right: Aaron Baer, the late Tom Minnery, Joe Trauth, David Myhal, and Phil Burress.
Looking ahead
Planned Parenthood and its allies are trying to enact an egregious amendment to our Constitution this November that would undo the last 50 years of pro-life work.
To stop them in their tracks, CCV is partnering with pro-life organizations to build and lead the statewide coalition that is mounting a serious and professional campaign to protect unborn children and their mothers. It’s a massive undertaking, and we need your partnership to fuel our efforts.
We don’t have the vast resources of the abortion industry, but every gift helps us close the gap. Your tax-deductible donation provides the solid foundation that our campaign for life will need over the coming months.
For more information, contact CCV at 513-733-5775 or contact@ccv.org.
As Ohio’s largest Christian public policy organization, Center for Christian Virtue seeks the good of our neighbors by advocating for public policy that reflects the truth of the Gospel.
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