Bishops of the Diocese of North Carolina Respond to Florida School Shooting
By Diocesan House
Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing you have made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of you, the God of all mercy, prefect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Collect of Ash Wednesday, Book of Common Prayer
So many of us who gathered for Ash Wednesday services prayed this Collect yesterday, making the tragedy unfolding in Florida all the more difficult to comprehend as the news began to reach us. That so many could be living moments of such fear and pain while we opened our heart to God’s love and began the sacred season of Lent seems impossible to reconcile.
But as we struggle to do just that, we must hold on to and live into the words we prayed. We believe that God hates nothing he has made, and he has made us all. Only in him, through Jesus Christ our Lord, will we find the mercy we need and the strength to take the anger and despair and transform these into action.
Many have pointed out that thoughts and prayers in this repeating cycle seem hollow. Others have observed that the inaction of our legislative bodies leaves us feeling powerless.
On this day – the second of this holy season – we put forth another call: We encourage everyone to contemplate bold, “countercultural” action. It is time to think and act outside the box, and ensure our anger is channeled into productive action. The old channels for reform have broken down and are clearly ineffective. As your bishops, we do not want to prescribe specific actions, but ask that you join us in prayerfully discerning what steps we might take, individually and as a body, to turn the tables, just as Jesus overturned the tables in the Temple.
Our minds and hearts are in turmoil just as yours are. We are asking ourselves the same question: What can we do? We do believe it’s time to go beyond writing letters, but what does that mean? Let us ask ourselves what will awaken our governmental representatives, because letters and phone calls are not working. Is it time to participate in demonstrations and protests, even if you have never done this before? Is it time to consider some kind of economic pressure such as refusing to contribute to political party fundraising? Is it time to redirect those funds to support an organized movement to change gun policy? Is it time to consider withholding taxes, in escrow, until our government addresses both the mental health concerns, and the automatic weapons that are so easily obtainable? These are not directives, but they are questions we’re asking. And in the asking, they engage all of us in a bolder form of discernment. Diocesan leadership is in its own process of discernment on these matters, and we’ll share our thoughts and directions as they develop.
We are going deeper together to become a beloved community. We know already that working toward that peace means engaging in the issues of pain and injustice in the world around us. We know we must face it if it is to be healed. So let us be mindful, prayerful and bold, now more than ever, in the steps we each are contemplating on the journey. As we grieve with our brothers and sisters in Florida, and lament once again the loss of innocent lives, may the steps we take today bring them, and us, ever closer to each other and to our Lord Jesus Christ.
Yours faithfully,
The Rt. Rev. Sam Rodman
Bishop, Diocese of North Carolina
The Rt. Rev. Anne Hodges-Copple
Bishop Suffragan, Diocese of North Carolina
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