Dear Friends:
Guns and Faith Don’t Mix
The Rhode Island State Council of Churches has encouraged congregations to participate in active shooter training in order help clergy and congregants be better prepared should they encounter the nightmare of an active shooter. We never, however, expected that there would be any recommendation to encourage concealed weapons being brought into worship. Although each congregation must determine their own policy,
the Rhode Island State Council of Churches does NOT endorse a policy of anyone bringing a concealed weapon into a worship service.
Worship space is “safe space” and when a weapon is present that space is not “safe.” For many congregants the presence of a weapon is emotionally and theologically upsetting and is counter to an atmosphere of worship. Based on the article, the rest of the workshop seems to have been productive and appreciated, but this suggestion of introducing weapons into a worship service as a matter of course is most disturbing.
We would do better to focus our efforts on prevention. The article on Monday (Click
HERE
to see article) details Rhode Island political figures who have accepted almost $20,000 from GOPAC (RI Gun Owners PAC) who are both Republicans and Democrats. This “blood money” has been used to stall common sense gun legislation in recent sessions. Bills that would limit guns on school grounds and limit the number of bullets in a clip never make it to the House or Senate floors for a debate and vote. Rhode Islanders, especially people of faith, should demand that politicians return every blooded penny of those donations. Newtown, CT is less than 90 miles from our state border.
IT COULD HAPPEN HERE! Is that what it will take for us to wake up?
Will Rhode Island students, teachers and staff have to pay with their lives for our political leaders to wake?
Our message should be loud and clear: give back the blood money, get off your hands and pass meaningful, common sense gun legislation in THIS SESSION.
Rev. Dr. Donald Anderson
Executive Minister, Rhode Island State Council of Churches
