On this, the anniversary of the mass shooting at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, SC, once again, our Nation and the World hear the names of the slain from another mass shooting. And once again, the Body of Christ weeps over another evil act that has taken lives of 49 souls, as well as the life of the assailant in yet another mass shooting. This time, it was at the Pulse Night Club in Orlando on June 12, 2016. 54 were left injured. The victims, many who were persons of color, of Latino heritage, or both, gathered to celebrate their culture. The impact is felt across our churches, schools, and workplaces. The shockwaves have been felt around the World, as the global community grieves the loss of so many lives.
In its quest for unity with justice, Churches Uniting in Christ offers our lament as well as our hope that all divisions amongst God’s people will be reconciled. We recognize that many families, but especially families of color, have been directly affected by this tragedy. We deplore that the Latino community, Muslim community and the LGBTQI community will continue to suffer, even after the news media turns to the next headline-grabbing story.
Across our denominations, many prayers have been and will be said. Numerous vigils will be held. We pray for compassion and understanding and are especially concerned about the two communities particularly experiencing the impact of the Orlando massacre. Everyone in the LBGTQI and Muslim communities deserves to know they are safe and free from any kind of discrimination and hateful, divisive language and retribution. As people of faith, the dignity of every human being is without question. No form of violence, whether it is terrorism or spiritual teaching, has the right to denigrate any person. In this moment of grief, we implore all of the members of our churches as well as the public in general to hold the human dignity of everyone in the highest regard and courageously speak up for the rights of the minorities and marginalized when they are attacked. As followers of the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ, we stand up against invective and vitriol. In the words of Maya Angelou, “Hate, it has caused a lot of problems in the World, but has not solved one yet.”
To the fallen, may God grant them eternal rest. To their families, we mourn with you and pray for your well-being. We also extend our compassion and prayers to the family of the assailant, for they are suffering too. We are deeply grateful for the police officers, first responders, medical care personnel, pastors and chaplains who are providing aid and assistance to victims and their families and friends. This sign of the common humanity unites us all. Such signs can serve to show us all how to act for positive change in society. To political leaders, we implore you to address the elements that allow these events to happen time and time again. We must recognize that our society has yet to provide adequate mental health care to those who resort to acts of violence out of their own despair prior to a tragedy occurring. The same type of assault rifle used at the Pulse Night Club was also used in Sandy Hook and San Bernardino. Let us not be shy about taking the necessary steps to increase oversight in the sales and purchase of these types of weapons. Enough is enough!
We are people born from the pain of the cross upon which Jesus of Nazareth was executed. Our solidarity with the victims and their families is visceral from the very core of our faith. We pledge our houses of worship as spaces in which comfort for the grieving can be found and the rhetoric of hate has no place. We also recommit ourselves to ministries of reconciliation and justice in our city streets – for we believe that “God is in the midst of the city” (Psalm 46:5a).
| Bishop Teresa Snorton President, CUIC |
Mr. Vince Gonzales Chair, Racial and Social Justice Task Force |
Rev. Michael Fisher, Jr. Chair, Young Adult Task Force |
| Mr. Abraham Wright Vice President, CUIC |
Rev. Hermann Weinlick Secretary, CUIC |
Rev. Karen Georgia Thompson Treasurer, CUIC |
Churches Uniting in Christ is a covenant relationship among eleven Christian communions that have pledged to live more closely together in expressing their unity in Christ and combating racism together. The member churches of CUIC include the African Methodist Episcopal Church, the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, The Episcopal Church, the International Council of Community Churches, the Moravian Church (Northern Province), the Presbyterian Church (USA), the United Church of Christ and the United Methodist Church. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is a partner in mission and dialogue. For more information, please see our website at www.churchesunitinginchrist.org
