Member Church News: Responses

The United States has once again been embroiled in a series of shootings that have “sparked debate over gun violence, racism and use of force by police.” WCRC member churches in North America have responded to these events. Here is a sampling:

• A Prayer for Love in the Face of Violence from the Christian Reformed Church office of social justice.
• We must mourn them all—we are all connected, a prayer from the United Church of Christ
• A Pastor of the United Church of Canada reacts to deadly shootings in U.S.
• Church leaders of the Presbyterian Church (USA) seek peaceful solutions in the wake of a violent week across the country

At a time when the media, both print and visual media, sensationalizes the news of conflict everywhere fanning further divisions among groups, communities and peoples the Church of South India Diocese of Madurai-Ramnad seeks to cultivate a culture of peace amidst the people.

The Rt. Rev. Peter Gai, moderator of the Presbyterian Church of South Sudan, told Michael Weller, Presbyterian World Mission Horn of Africa regional liaison, that a ceasefire in South Sudan is holding. Weller said talks would involve church leaders because the church is such an important factor in the life of people in South Sudan.

Czech Television devoted 90 minutes of programming to a liturgical commemoration of national and religious leaders, chief among them the Reformers Jan Hus and Jerome of Prague who were executed in 1415 as heretics and are celebrated today as martyrs and champions of faith, intellect and liberty.

Christy and Brad Knetsch, pastors of Madison Square CRC, delivered a sermon this past Sunday called “Testify: Immigrants Are a Blessing, Not a Burden.” Christy answered a few questions about why they chose to preach on immigration.

The 222nd General Assembly (2016) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) directed the PC(USA) to join its ecumenical partners, especially the Presbyterian Church of Korea (PCK), the Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea (PROK), the National Council of Churches in Korea (NCCK) and the Korean Christian Federation of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) in efforts to pursue peace in the Korean peninsula.