Why Every Ohio Pastor Should Celebrate the Maryland Settlement
Celebrating What Is Good:
A Monthly Publication from the Church Ambassador Network
In a cultural moment that often feels like a relentless tide against the family, it is easy to become weary. As pastors, we see the front lines of this battle every Sunday:
Parents who are confused,
Children who are being catechized by secular institutions, and
A state that increasingly views itself as the "primary" parent.
However, this past month provided us with a reason to pause and offer a prayer of thanksgiving. On February 19, a landmark victory was finalized that serves as a shot across the bow of every school board in America.
The Montgomery County Board of Education in Maryland was ordered to pay $1.5 million in damages and legal fees after the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the religious rights of parents in the case of Mahmoud v. Taylor.
For years, a diverse coalition of Christian, Muslim, and Jewish parents fought for a simple, God-given right: the ability to opt their children out of storybooks and curricula promoting gender ideology and pride events for children as young as three.
The State is Not the Parent
For too long, the "experts" in our educational institutions have operated under the assumption that children are wards of the state. In the original dispute, one board member went so far as to suggest that allowing parents to opt-out was essentially teaching their children "to hate."
But as followers of Christ, we know that the "paideia" (the total upbringing and education of a child) belongs to the home, not the government. Scripture is unequivocal on this point. In Deuteronomy 6:6-7, the Lord commands:
"And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise."
God did not give this mandate to the magistrate! He gave it to the family. When the state attempts to sever the moral and spiritual instruction of a child from the authority of the parent, it is an act of spiritual overreach.
The Wisdom of the Spheres
The great Dutch theologian and statesman Abraham Kuyper famously spoke of "Sphere Sovereignty." He argued that the family, the church, and the state are distinct spheres of authority, each accountable directly to God.
Kuyper wrote:
"The parental rights must be seen as a sovereign right... it is inherent in fatherhood and motherhood, and it is given directly from God to the father and mother" (Abraham Kuyper, "The School Belongs to the Parents," 1896).
When the state ignores this, it becomes an "octopus," as Kuyper warned, stifling the life of the family. The $1.5 million settlement in Maryland proves that when the state tries to play God, there is a literal and moral cost. It reminds us that we do not have to "coexist" with the indoctrination of our children. We have the right, and the duty, to protect them.
A Call to Courage in Ohio
Why does a win in Maryland matter to us here in Ohio? Because the same spirit of overreach is knocking on our doors. Whether it is through "diversity, equity, and inclusion" mandates or the weaponization of "mental health" services in schools to bypass parental consent, the pressure is mounting.
C.S. Lewis once warned in The Abolition of Man that a society that ignores objective moral truth in education is essentially "making men without chests" and then wondering why they lack virtue (C.S. Lewis, The Abolition of Man, 1943).
Pastors, let this victory embolden you:
Equip your parents: Use the CCV Advocacy Center to stay informed on parental rights legislation in Ohio.
Support our schools: Celebrate the growth of alternatives like the Ohio Christian Education Network (OCEN) and movements like LifeWise Academy that are bringing the Gospel back into the public square.
Stand firm: Join the Church Ambassador Network to unite with other leaders who are committed to protecting the sacred bond between parent and child.
Justice Samuel Alito, writing for the majority in this case, noted that the right to direct the religious upbringing of children would be an "empty promise" if it stopped at the schoolhouse door. Let us ensure it remains a full promise for the families in our pews.
Be encouraged. The Word of God is not chained, and the sacred bond of the family remains under His sovereign protection.
Next Steps for Your Church
Register for the 2026 Essential Summit: Hear from legal experts on how to navigate parental rights in the current cultural climate.
Learn more about the OCEN Scholarship Granting Organization (SGO): Discover how your congregants can direct their tax dollars to support Christian education.
Join the Prayer at the Statehouse: Stand with us as we pray for the protection of Ohio's families and the wisdom of our legislators.
Citations:
Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, "Montgomery County forced to pay religious families $1.5 million..." February 20, 2026.
Kuyper, Abraham. "The School Belongs to the Parents." Translated and reprinted by the Acton Institute, 2020.
Lewis, C.S. The Abolition of Man. Oxford University Press, 1943.
Mahmoud v. Taylor, 604 U.S. ___ (2025).
The Church Ambassador Network is a ministry of the Center for Christian Virtue. We exist to serve and resource the Church in Ohio to understand the times and know how to respond. Read more about our mission at ccv.org/can.
