By Fletcher Word
The Truth Editor
Education matters. Higher education matters and higher education within the halls of our HBCUs matters a great deal to the Black community.
Local faith leaders came together on Thursday, August 20, at the Historic Third Baptist Church to sign a Covenant Supporting Excellence in Education. Specifically, the faith leaders acknowledged the historical importance of Ohio’s only public historically Black college or university – Central State University – and the critical importance that particular institution has had for the local community over the decades.
We publicly affirm our wholehearted support of the Central State University Day [Weekend] Initiative.
The faith leaders covenant creates a path forward for continued collaboration among Toledo’s faith community, schools, non-profit organizations, community institutions and Central State University to support students and to help them recognize the opportunities that institutions such as CSU can offer.
We pledge to encourage our congregations to celebrate education as both a spiritual calling and a community responsibility.
Central State has encountered some financial challenges in recent years. Last year, the Ohio Department of Higher Education put CSU on fiscal watch, citing multiple financial discrepancies. It was the third time since 2005 that Ohio’s only public HBCU was placed on a fiscal watch.
This past academic year, CSU cut 16 faculty positions in order to comply with Advance Ohio Education Act requiring public universities to eliminate programs that have graduated fewer than five students over a three-year period – the majority of the cuts were in the humanities department.
Those reductions followed a cut of 33 staff positions and seven faculty jobs in 2025 after having been placed on fiscal watch by the Ohio Department of Higher Education.
The covenant initiative has been organized primarily by Robert Smith and the African American Legacy Project, along with Third Baptist Church, Toledo Public Schools, Owens Community College, HOPE Toledo and UMADAOP of Lucas County.
We will actively encourage students, parents, grandparents and families to consider Central State University and the life-changing opportunities made possible through higher education.
“By signing this covenant we are demonstrating our commitment to education, opportunity, leadership and the future of our youth,” said Ronald Rice, chair of the Third Baptist Church Board of Trustees.
Before the covenant was signed, attendees heard from several faith leaders, including Rev. John Jones, executive director of HOPE Toledo, and a graduate of Central State University. Jones graduated 30 years ago form CSU and, keeping it in the family, his daughter graduated in 2025.
Central State “is near and dear to our hearts,” he told his audience.
“Our community used to have a very strong pipeline to Central State,” he continued. “We are going to rebuild that pipeline.”
Noting that CSU is “in many ways under attack,” due to the nation’s “current leadership that has decided that HBCUs are not critical,” Jones stated that indeed “HBCus are the most critical educational aspect of our community.”
Jones asked the attendees to consider doing two important things in the future involving HBCUs. First, “you find every single young person you can and get them here on the 26th.”
Second, “you tell every single soul that Central State University is alive and getting better.”
The covenant signers included: Dr. Warren Marshall, DDS, Junior Warden, All Saints Episcopal; Pastor Charles Jones, Christian Temple Baptist Church; Bishop A. Culp, Pastor Emeritus First Church of God; Min. Pamela Y. Knox, Third Baptist Church; Bishop James M. Williams, Sr., End Time Christian Fellowship; Bishop Marjorie Holt, Bethesda Christian Center; Rev. John C. Jones, Christian Temple Baptist Church; Pastor Clifton R. Kilpatrick, Warren AME; Bishop Robert S. Davis, First Church of God; Pastor John Walthall, Mt. Ararat MBC; Trustee Ronald Rice, Third Baptist Chairman of the Trustee Board; Pastor Williams C. Foster, Sr., Indiana Avenue MBC; Bishop Randall Parker III, Canaan Manifested Word Church.
We pledge to work together to establish Central State University Day [Weekend] as a lasting annual tradition that celebrates scholarship, leadership, service, unity and hope for future generations.