On May 24, 2022 an 18-year-old gunman shot and killed 19 students and two teachers at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, TX. The gunman was killed by police. The nature and scale of the tragedy has led to an outpouring of calls for both prayer and action from religious and spiritual leaders across the world, including Pope Francis. United Methodist leaders have joined the chorus of voices praying for the families of victims while also calling for immediate action to prevent future tragedies to gun violence. Below you will find statements, prayers, advocacy information and other resources produced by United Methodist leaders and entities.
Statements
The Council of Bishops
- “UMC bishops call for action to stop mass shootings” (May 25, 2022)
Annual Conferences
- Bishop Robert Schnase “A Message Regarding the Robb Elementary School Shooting” Rio Texas Annual Conference (May 24, 2022)
- Bishop Gary E. Mueller “Uvalde – So What Should We Do?” Arkansas Annual Conference (May 25, 2022)
- Bishop Sally Dick “Bishop Sally Dyck shares "Litany in the Wake of a Mass Shooting” California-Nevada Annual Conference (May 25, 2022)
- Interim Bishop Deborah Kiesey “A Pastoral Letter from Bishop Deborah Kiesey regarding the Texas school shooting” Iowa Annual Conference (May 25, 2022)
- Bishop Leonard Fairley “Enough: A statement from Bishop Leonard” Kentucky and North Carolina Annual Conference (May 25, 2022)
- “Responding To Gun Violence” Missouri Annual Conference (May 25, 2022)
- Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi and Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball “A Special Message from the Bishops” Susquehanna and West Virginia Annual Conferences (May 25, 2022)
- Bishop Scott J. Jones “School Shooting in Uvalde” Texas Annual Conference (May 25, 2022)
- Bishop Mark J. Webb “From the Desk of Bishop Mark J. Webb: Texas elementary school shooting” Upper New York Annual Conference (May 25, 2022)
- Bishop Ken Carter “Bishop Carter Offers a Prayer of Lament in Response to the Mass Shootings in Buffalo, Laguna Woods, and Uvalde” Western North Carolina (May 25, 2022)
- Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi “We Need a Savior!” Western Pennsylvania Annual Conference (May 25, 2022)
General boards and agencies
- Rev. Susan Henry Crowe, general secretary, General Board of Church and Society “Take Action to End Gun Violence Now” (May 25, 2022)
- “Prayer from United Women in Faith” (May 25, 2022)
Ecumenical statements
- “Uvalde school shooting: Faith leaders offer comfort, call for reform of gun laws” Religious News Service (May 25, 2022)
Articles and resources
- Heather Hahn "Grieving, praying after attack on school" United Methodist News (May 25, 2020)
- Aimee Cox, director of children's ministry at Christ United Methodist Church “God, show us how to do more: A prayer in response to violence” (May 24, 2022)
- Cindy Klick “Courageous Conversations for Youth: Gun Violence” Discipleship Ministries (October 20, 2021)
- “Courageous Conversation about Gun Violence” Discipleship Ministries (February 18, 2022)
- Chris Wilterdink “Lament: A Time to Call Out” Discipleship Ministries (November 9, 2022)
- “Gun Violence Prevention” General Board of Church and Society
- “Gun Violence Faith & Fact Card” General Board of Church and Society
- “Book of Resolutions: Our Call to End Gun Violence” 2016 Book of Resolutions, #3428
- The Rev. Joe Iovino “Ways United Methodists can take a stand against gun violence” United Methodist Communications (February 16, 2018)