Natural Family Month: A Christ-Centered Look at HB262
There’s a bill moving at the Ohio Statehouse that recognizes something both timeless and essential: the value of the natural family. House Bill 262 (HB262) would designate the time between Mother’s Day and Father’s Day—from the second Sunday in May to the third Sunday in June—as Natural Family Month in Ohio.
Sponsored by Representatives Beth Lear (R-Galena) and Josh Williams (R-Sylvania Township), the bill isn’t merely symbolic. It seeks to re-center public attention on the irreplaceable role of biblical marriage—between one man and one woman—and the importance of stable, two-parent households in the upbringing of children.
In a time when our culture is flooded with confusion about identity, sexuality, and the very nature of the family, this bill affirms a simple truth: strong families build strong communities.
A Response to a Real Crisis
While critics are quick to cast HB262 as a reaction to pride month or the broader LGBTQ ideology, the truth is much deeper and far more urgent. Ohio is facing a profound decline in marriage rates, fertility, and family stability.
In fact, marriage rates across the United States have dropped to historic lows, with Ohio reflecting that national trend, ranking at #29 on the Family Structure Index.
Fewer couples are choosing to marry, more children are being born outside of wedlock, and the societal consequences are measurable: increased poverty, declining educational outcomes, and rising mental health issues among youth.
HB262 is about restoration.
It recognizes that when children grow up with a married mother and father, they are statistically more likely to thrive emotionally, socially, and academically.
“Marriage and families are the cornerstone of civil society…[they’re] imperative if we want to maintain a healthy and stable Republic.” —Rep. Beth Lear
On Tuesday, June 10, Representative Gary Click (R-Vickery), Chair of the House Community Revitalization Committee, presided over opponent testimony for the newly introduced HB262.
One witness, Deacon Nick Bates, engaged in back-and-forth commentary with Rep. Click on why there is a societal assumption of a mother and a father in the home.
Watch their revealing exchange:
“HB262 is about…promoting the economic and social stability that comes from raising children in healthy, two‑parent households.” —Rep. Josh Williams
Kingdom Response
As Christians, we affirm the beauty and sanctity of the family as instituted by God. Scripture consistently uplifts the value of marriage and parenthood:
"Therefore, a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh."
—Genesis 2:24
HB262 seeks to celebrate and promote the natural family—a married father and mother raising children, which reflects this biblical design.
From a Christian worldview, supporting and strengthening these family structures is not only appropriate but vital for cultivating stable communities and transmitting faith and virtue across generations.
Scripture also calls us to grace, compassion, and truth in love. Jesus consistently welcomed those on the margins: single parents, widows, orphans, the outcast, and the misunderstood.
While we uphold the ideal, we are also called to walk alongside families who look different due to circumstance, brokenness, or calling.
"Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world."
—James 1:27
At CCV, we are dedicated to seeing families grow and thrive throughout Ohio and our nation. Learn more about how we plan to change the tide of marriage by reading our Hope and a Future report.
Interested in learning how your church can get involved? Our Church Ambassador Network has partnered with Communio to provide local churches with the resources they need to be better equipped to serve families in their communities! Learn more here.
Dive Deeper
Brad Wilcox, a leading sociologist and author of our Hope and a Future report, joined CCV President Aaron Baer, Policy Director David Mahan, and Communications Director Mike Andrews on The Narrative podcast to discuss how marriage determines the nation's trajectory and its long-term benefits for both couples and society at large.
The Narrative is our weekly podcast that discusses and dissects current issues and events from multiple angles and viewpoints, equipping you to think biblically and critically about today’s most pressing topics.
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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