From California to Louisiana to Iowa, United Methodists are responding with prayer, comfort for the grieving and renewed calls for advocacy against gun violence.
A national day of prayer and fasting on Feb. 1 has been declared by the Rev. Dennis Blackwell and the group Black Methodists for a Better Future to ask for God’s help curbing gun, domestic and economic violence as well as systemic racism.
To overcome the crisis of gun violence in the U.S. and around the globe, bishops are urging United Methodists to raise their prayers and contact their elected leaders.
United Methodists are praying for devastated families and a traumatized community after the murder of 19 children and two teachers. The Council of Bishops president is urging laity and clergy to “go on the offense” to stop mass shootings.