Statement from the ECCT Bishops

 

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ:

 

Once again our country is ravaged by the scourge of gun violence in yet another mass shooting.  At this point in time, Sunday's shooting in Las Vegas has resulted in 58 victims and over 500 injured in what is being described as the largest mass shooting in modern United States history.  Such an act of violence is contrary to God's will for humanity and all that we stand for as followers of Jesus.

 

As your bishops in the Episcopal Church in Connecticut, we participate actively in the network, Bishops United Against Gun Violence (BUAGV) -- BUAGV website here, and Facebook page for Episcopalians Against Gun Violence here. In fact, we both helped to found BUAGV in the wake of our own Sandy Hook tragedy, and Ian continues to serve as Co-Convener of BUAGV.    

 

This morning BUAGV bishops met via conference call to address the situation in Las Vegas.  We were joined by the Rt. Rev. Dan Edwards, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Nevada.  Together we drafted the following statement and call to prayer and action.  As bishops of Connecticut we stand behind this statement of the Bishops United Against Gun Violence and commend it to you.

 

As described in the closing of the BUAGV statement, we ask that our ECCT Cathedral and all parishes in the Episcopal Church in Connecticut open their doors for prayer tomorrow, October 3, 2017, and join at noon in the ringing of our church bells for all those who have died in Las Vegas.  Let us come together in prayer and solidarity with the people of the Episcopal Diocese of Nevada and all who are committed to overcoming gun violence in our nation and in the world.

 

God bless us in these difficult times.  And may the peace of Christ rule in our hearts.

  

Faithfully,

  

The Rt. Rev. Ian T. Douglas, Bishop Diocesan

The Rt. Rev. Laura J. Ahrens, Bishop Suffragan