FREMONT, Ohio — TiffinOhio.net has learned that Rep. Gary Click (R-Vickery) recently “abandoned his flock,” quietly stepping down as pastor of Fremont Baptist Temple after 19 years of leading the congregation, and assuming the honorary title of pastor emeritus while facing a competitive Republican primary challenge.
Click’s official Ohio House biography states he “served through 2025” and “recently stepped down and assumed the honorary title of pastor Emeritus.” The pastoral transition occurred as Click campaigns for re-election against Republican challenger Eric Watson in the May 5, 2026 primary for the 88th House District.
No public announcement of Click’s departure from active ministry has been found. The church’s leadership webpage continues to list “Pastor Gary Click” in the top leadership position with no mention of emeritus status or the pastoral transition. Attempts to reach Click’s office for comment were unsuccessful.
The timing of Click’s departure coincides with one of the most competitive primary challenges of his legislative career. Watson has positioned himself as a grassroots conservative alternative to Click, criticizing the incumbent’s voting record and campaign finance patterns.
Click accepted the position of pastor at Fremont Baptist Temple in 2006, relocating from Clinton, Indiana.
The fundamentalist Baptist church operates Temple Christian Academy, a PreK-12 nonchartered religious school with approximately 40 students. According to National Center for Education Statistics data, the school is affiliated with the American Association of Christian Schools.
Throughout his legislative career, Click has championed legislation that would directly benefit his church’s educational operations. In November 2023, he introduced House Bill 339 to create the “Nonchartered Educational Savings Account Program,” which would have funneled public education dollars to nonchartered nonpublic schools like Temple Christian Academy—private schools that have declined state oversight.
Under the proposed legislation, each participating student would have received 90% of the statewide average base cost per pupil in public money. The bill received zero cosponsors from either Republicans or Democrats in the Ohio House and never received a vote after two committee hearings.
Click previously served as National Legislative Director for the Buckeye Christian School Organization and established the Governor’s Evangelical Advisory Council after Mike DeWine assumed office in 2019. Click chaired the council and presented DeWine with the Champion of Life Award prior to the governor signing Ohio’s Heartbeat Bill into law.
The church’s Facebook page identifies Rick Ash, who joined the ministry in 2011, as the new pastor. Ash is listed as providing “leadership for Temple Christian Academy” and could previously be “found teaching a Bible study, leading in Sunday worship and filling in the gaps wherever needed.”
Click earned a Bachelor of Religious Education from Midwestern Baptist College in 1990. His career in ministry began with The Academy of Arts, a Christian drama organization, before serving as associate pastor at Hillcrest Baptist Church in Richmond, Indiana, and later as lead pastor at a church in Clinton, Indiana.
Click has served in the Ohio House since 2021 and currently chairs the Community Revitalization Committee and the Ohio Christian Legislators Caucus. He also sits on the House Ways and Means Committee, the Education Committee, and the Children and Human Services Committee.
The 88th House District encompasses all of Sandusky and Seneca Counties. Click faces Republican challenger Eric Watson in the May 5, 2026 primary. The winner of the Republican primary will face Democratic challenger Aaron Jones, a U.S. Army veteran, longtime manufacturing supervisor, and Tiffin City Councilman in the November general election.
