Navigation Back Search
Search

United Methodists join prayer vigil for gun reform

Aug. 21, 2023 | NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UM News)

Supporters of gun reform join in prayer outside the Tennessee State Capitol in Nashville on Aug. 21 as lawmakers begin a special legislative session focused on public safety following a mass shooting at the Covenant School here in March. Joining the prayer is the Rev. Eric Mayle (second from right) of Calvary United Methodist Church in Nashville. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.
Supporters of gun reform join in prayer outside the Tennessee State Capitol in Nashville on Aug. 21 as lawmakers begin a special legislative session focused on public safety following a mass shooting at the Covenant School here in March. Joining the prayer is the Rev. Eric Mayle (second from right) of Calvary United Methodist Church in Nashville. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Gun reform supporters, including United Methodist clergy and church members, gathered for an early morning prayer vigil at the Tennessee State Capitol in Nashville, Tenn., on Aug. 21. The gathering came as lawmakers begin a special legislative session focused on public safety and mental health following a mass shooting at the Covenant School here in March. The Rev. Ingrid McIntyre, a United Methodist pastor, helped organize the vigil.

United Methodists have long looked for ways to stop gun violence in all its forms. The denomination’s Book of Resolutions encourages congregations to advocate for such measures as universal background checks for all gun purchases and bans on large-capacity ammunition magazines and weapons designed to fire multiple rounds each time the trigger is pulled, as were used in the Covenant School shooting.

Mike DuBose has photos from the prayer gathering.

The Revs. Paul Purdue (right) and Ken Edwards (center) join in prayer with Mike Engle during a prayer vigil in support of gun reform at the Tennessee State Capitol in Nashville on Aug. 21. Purdue is senior pastor of Belmont United Methodist Church in Nashville, Edwards is retired clergy from the Tennessee-Western Kentucky Conference and Engle is a public defender in Nashville and member of Belmont. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.
The Revs. Paul Purdue (right) and Ken Edwards (center) join in prayer with Mike Engle during a prayer vigil in support of gun reform at the Tennessee State Capitol in Nashville on Aug. 21. Purdue is senior pastor of Belmont United Methodist Church in Nashville, Edwards is retired clergy from the Tennessee-Western Kentucky Conference and Engle is a public defender in Nashville and member of Belmont. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.
The Rev. Keller Hawkins (left) helps lead a prayer vigil in support of gun control at the Tennessee State Capitol in Nashville, where lawmakers will begin a special legislative session focused on public safety and mental health following a mass shooting at Nashville’s Covenant School in March, which killed six people. Hawkins is a provisional deacon in the Tennessee-Western Kentucky Conference. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.
The Rev. Keller Hawkins (left) helps lead a prayer vigil in support of gun control at the Tennessee State Capitol in Nashville, where lawmakers will begin a special legislative session focused on public safety and mental health following a mass shooting at Nashville’s Covenant School in March, which killed six people. Hawkins is a provisional deacon in the Tennessee-Western Kentucky Conference. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.
Supporters of gun reform hold hands in prayer outside the Tennessee State Capitol in Nashville, where lawmakers will begin a special legislative session focused on public safety following a mass shooting at the Covenant School. Three 9-year-old children and three adult staff members were killed at the school before the shooter was taken down by police. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.
Supporters of gun reform hold hands in prayer outside the Tennessee State Capitol in Nashville, where lawmakers will begin a special legislative session focused on public safety following a mass shooting at the Covenant School. Three 9-year-old children and three adult staff members were killed at the school before the shooter was taken down by police. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.
The Rev. Keller Hawkins leads marchers during an Aug. 21 prayer vigil in support of gun control at the Tennessee State Capitol in Nashville, where lawmakers will begin a special legislative session focused on public safety and mental health following a mass shooting at the Covenant School earlier this year in Nashville. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.
The Rev. Keller Hawkins leads marchers during an Aug. 21 prayer vigil in support of gun control at the Tennessee State Capitol in Nashville, where lawmakers will begin a special legislative session focused on public safety and mental health following a mass shooting at the Covenant School earlier this year in Nashville. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Related Tags

Sign up for our newsletter!

Subscribe Now
Violence
United Methodist missionary Janet Lahr Lewis (left) visits with Basma Manasra as she and her family harvest olives in 2006 on their farm in the West Bank village of Wadi Foquin. The region has seen increased threats of violence and land confiscation since the Hamas attack on Israel in 2023. United Methodists, who have a long partnership with Wadi Foquin, have appealed to the U.S. government to help halt the annexation of Palestinian land and ensure a permanent and equitable peace between Israel and Palestine. File photo by Paul Jeffrey.

Church members urge intervention in West Bank
The California-Nevada Conference makes an appeal to the U.S. government as violence escalates in Palestinian villages, including longtime church partner Wadi Foquin.
Human Rights
Representatives of churches in the Chicago area who are supporting Sammool House meet in the living room of the home, which provides a safe place for women escaping domestic conflict, financial hardship or other crises. The ministry was founded by the Rev. Misook Park (third from left), pastor of Sammool Korean United Methodist Church in the Northern Illinois Conference. Photo courtesy of Sammool House.

Pastor redefines what a church can be
Through a small immigrant congregation and an unmarked guest house for women in crisis, the Rev. Misook Park has quietly built a ministry that extends beyond Sunday worship.
Social Concerns
Bishop C. Dale White speaks at the 1980 United Methodist General Conference in Indianapolis about his 11-day visit to Iran in November aimed at fostering dialogue amid the Iranian hostage crisis. White spoke about his delegation’s meeting with the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. File photo courtesy of the United Methodist Commission on Archives and History.

Taking action during a previous Iran crisis
A few weeks into the 1979 Iranian hostage crisis, Bishop C. Dale White of New Jersey joined a small delegation of religious leaders headed to Iran in hopes of fostering dialogue.

United Methodist Communications is an agency of The United Methodist Church

©2026 United Methodist Communications. All Rights Reserved