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AME Council of Bishops Calls for Prayer Following the Tragedy in Newton, Connecticut

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AME Council of Bishops Calls for Prayer Following the Tragedy in Newton, Connecticut

Posted on Wed, Dec 19, 2012

AME Council of Bishops calls for prayer following the tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut:

Council of Bishops
African Methodist Episcopal Church
P.O. Box 147
Little Rock, Arkansas 72203-0147
Bishop Samuel L. Green, Sr,
President of the Council of Bishops
Bishop John Richard Bryant
Senior Bishop

December 15, 2012

Members of the African Methodist Episcopal Church:

The Council of Bishops of the African Methodist Episcopal Church asks that all Churches pause for prayer during Sunday service, December 16, 2012. Let us pray for the families and people who lost loved ones during the mass killings in Newtown, Connecticut where there were 28 dead, including 20 children at Sandy Hook Elementary School on Friday, December 14, 2012.

Following the mass killings President Obama expressed the anguish all of us felt in the face of this tragedy. He said, "We've endured too many of these tragedies in the past few years. And each time I learn the news I react not as a president, but as anybody else would, as a parent. And that was especially true today." If the tragedies are to stop, the Church must be involved and understand that we are a part of the solution.

This tragedy did not happen in war-torn Syria, Afghanistan, or the Congo, but rather in urban Newtown, Connecticut at an elementary school. Let us pray for more love in our country; and genuine relationships of love between people. As believers of God, we know that this kind of love can only be born out of hearts that love God first through a relationship with Jesus Christ. The Church must become a part of the crowd of witnesses who daily share the Good News of love, peace and happiness with those we meet. We must be our brother and sister keeper. We must take time to look at and not over others.

We can and should make a difference in this world for we are the light, which eradicates darkness. We cannot become discouraged, we have work to do and the power and the Word needed to be successful.

I urge you to contact the government leaders in your area to encourage legislation for stricter gun control laws and as a community of faith let's be proactive in raising the consciousness of our communities about the disease of mental illness.
We pray God 's peace for you and ask His blessings on you and your witnessing.

Yours in peace and power,
The Council of Bishops
Bishop Samuel Green, Sr., President

Reprinted with permission from the AMEC Clergy Family Information

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