From Virginia-Issues of gun violence and safety have been on the hearts and minds of Christians increasingly in recent months. In the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia, we’re exploring how we can lend our unique voice to this important cause.
In 2013, the Diocese of Virginia passed two resolutions on the issue. “Response to Gun Violence” supports the strengthening and reinstatement of a federal ban on military-style semiautomatic assault weapons, while “Action to Reduce Gun Violence” calls for Virginia Episcopalians to make a pledge to commit to working within our churches toward reducing gun violence.
In addition, the Episcopal Church adopted a resolution at its 2012 General Convention, calling for parishes and diocesan places of work to declare their establishments as gun-free zones.
In short, the governing bodies of the Diocese of Virginia and the Episcopal Church are committed to working against gun violence. In March of this year, I joined hundreds of Episcopalians in a Stations of the Cross walk to the U.S. Capitol, a powerful testament to the shared commitment to put an end to gun violence. I am also a member of Bishops Against Gun Violence, an ad-hoc group of Episcopal bishops with a common mission. We are exploring what responsible gun ownership looks like, and how it is promoted.
More here-
http://www.timesdispatch.com/opinion/their-opinion/columnists-blogs/guest-columnists/johnston-an-episcopal-response-to-gun-violence/article_b5889167-c842-5100-afaf-55f9fd7cfb1c.html
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