Rev. Dr. Jack Sullivan, Jr.

The Rev. Dr. Jack Sullivan, Jr., is an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) United States and Canada. He serves as executive director of the Columbus-based Ohio Council of Churches. A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Dr. Sullivan is an ecumenist, preacher, justice advocate, journalist, and death penalty abolitionist. In recognition of his work to stop executions, Dr. Sullivan was given the 2022 Death Penalty Abolition Award by Restorative Justice International, the 2020 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Social Justice Award by Governor Mike DeWine and the Ohio Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission, the 2019 Humanitarian Award from the Black Heritage Library and Multicultural Center of Findlay, Ohio, and the 2019 Victims Services Award from Journey of Hope From Violence to Healing. In 2018 Dr. Sullivan received the African American Liberation Award from the National Convocation of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Ohio University; a Master of Divinity degree from Lexington Theological Seminary; a Doctor of Ministry from United Theological Seminary (Dayton); and honorary doctorates from Bethany College, Bethany, West Virginia and Heidelberg University, Tiffin, Ohio.

Dr. Sullivan is the Governing Board chairperson of Journey of Hope From Violence to Healing and co-president of the Disciples Justice Action Network. He is an Advisory Board member of Catholic Mobilizing Network; Trinity Lutheran Seminary, Columbus, Ohio; Death Penalty Action; Restorative Justice International; and the United States Global Leadership Council. Dr. Sullivan is the immediate past Board chair of Ohioans to Stop Executions and a former Steering Committee member of the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty. He holds life memberships in the NAACP and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., and is a member of the Faith and Order Commission and Governing Board of the National Council of Churches. Dr. Sullivan holds additional memberships in the Mount Zion Baptist Church Preservation Society of Athens, Ohio; the National Association of Black Journalists; the Society of Professional Journalists; the Academy of Homiletics; the Lions Club of Canal Winchester, Ohio; and the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers.