The Bishops of the Diocese of North Carolina Respond to Violence in Las Vegas
By Diocesan House
The bishops of the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina – the Rt. Rev. Sam Rodman, bishop, and the Rt. Rev. Anne Hodges-Copple, bishop suffragan – offer a statement in response to last night’s violence in Las Vegas:
Please don’t give in to the anger.
It’s a natural reaction to the events that took place last night in Las Vegas, Nevada. How could it not be, when one lone gunman turned a night of fun and celebration into a horror? When the shock and disbelief upon hearing the news begin to dissipate, how can we help but feel angry?
We can’t help it. We should be angry. But we can’t give in to it, for if we give in to anger, we are also susceptible to falling prey to anger’s companions: despair and fear. And when we are ruled by that debilitating trio, there remains little room for the love and hope we’ll have to find if we are to heal and move forward.
But how do we keep anger from taking over?
We pray. Pray for the victims of last night’s attack. Pray for their families and loved ones. Pray for the first responders and officials who are dealing with the aftermath. Pray for the gunman, as difficult as that may seem, for only a truly troubled mind could inflict this kind of devastation. Pray for each other, that we may find strength in our faith and room in our hearts for compassion.
We remember. We remember we are not alone, for not only do we have each other for comfort and support – and the ability to be a comfort and support to others – we are the children of a God who promises “…I am with you, do not be afraid, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand” (Isaiah 41:10).
We let go. We let go of our anger and banish the hate from our hearts, and in their place we feel the power of something greater, something that feeds us and compels us to reach out to our neighbor. As we’re taught, “Do not let the sun go down on your anger…..put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice, and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:26, 31-32).
We love. There is no power greater than love. It is what heals, it is what binds us together, and its absence is what holds us apart. It is at the heart of hope, that spark that keeps us getting up and putting one foot in front of the other even in the face of pain and heartbreak. “And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13).
Some days it’s easier said than done, but it’s on these hardest of days when it’s most important to pray, remember, let go and love – and not to give in to the anger.
O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in your good time, all nations and races may serve you in harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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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