By now you have probably seen Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori’s Call to Action on gun violence. If not, you will find it on the Episcopal Generations blog.
In her statement, the Presiding Bishop asks members of the United States Episcopal Church to spread this message by all means of communication – social media, word-of-mouth, church announcements, email, and the good old fashioned phone call to members of Congress. (Find out who your member of Congress is here.)
You are also encouraged to take the Pledge to Break the Cycle of Gun Violence, which states:
As an Episcopalian committed in baptism to seeking justice and peace and promoting the dignity of every human being, I commit to being part of the solution to the violence in our culture that claimed the lives of 26 people at Sandy Hook Elementary School and that claims the lives of 2000 innocent children through gun crimes each year. I commit to the pursuit of laws that keep guns out of the hands of criminals, prioritize the needs of at-risk children, provide care for mental illness, and address the many ways in which our culture both celebrates and trivializes violence. I commit to holding my lawmakers, my community, and my own household accountable. I commit to accomplishing these things in 2013. I commit to being the change we need.
Whether you’re a layperson, a deacon, a priest, or a bishop, there’s a role for you in breaking the cycle of gun violence.
I urge you to take this simple step now.
Filed under: Gun Violence