wfn.org | Oregon shooting puts tragedy at United Methodist church's

[NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.UMC.ORG>]

doorstep

May 22, 1998     Contact: Tim Tanton*(615)742-5470*Nashville, Tenn.
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By United Methodist News Service

A teen-ager's deadly shooting rampage in Springfield, Ore., has brought
the grief and shock of a community to the front door of  St. Paul Center
United Methodist Church, across the street from where the incident
occurred.

Almost immediately after the May 21 shooting, the Rev. Ed McIndoo opened
the doors of St. Paul Center and began helping stunned townspeople deal
with the tragedy that occurred at Thurston High School. At 8 a.m. that
day, Kipland "Kip" Kinkel, 15, had allegedly opened fire on fellow
students in the cafeteria, killing one and injuring about 20 others.

"The community is in a state of shock," said the Rev. Gary Oba, district
superintendent for the United Methodist Church.

It was also in a state of responsiveness, as clergy, trauma workers,
civic leaders, elected officials and police went into action.

"This community is really pulling together in a lot of ways," said the
Rev. Gregg Monroe, pastor of Ebbert Memorial United Methodist Church in
Springfield. "I am impressed.

"I've had more offers of help than I know what to do with," he added.

St. Paul was one of the early sites where information about the shooting
victims was made available, Oba said. A lot of parents were distraught
as they tried to learn who was involved in the incident and to which
hospitals the victims were taken, he said.

Kipland had entered the high school cafeteria at about 8 a.m., firing a
.22 rifle. He was stopped after other students tackled him as he tried
to reload. He was scheduled to be arraigned May 22 in Eugene. Police
said he will be charged as an adult, but his age prevents him from
receiving the death penalty if found guilty.

The school had started expulsion proceedings against Kinkel the day
before the shooting for bringing a gun to school. The youth, the son of
two high school Spanish teachers, was described as troubled and having a
fascination for guns.

Two adults believed to be his parents were found dead at his home later
that day. Kinkel's sister, a college senior in Hawaii, was reported to
be returning home upon news of the shooting.

"It's been a very sobering kind of incident for our community," Oba
said. Springfield, which blends into Eugene, is a small town of about
50,000 people.

St. Paul is a small church with about 64 members. Pastor McIndoo, a
Disciples of Christ minister and professor at Northwest Christian
College in Eugene, spent much of the day at St. Paul, then returned the
next day to open the church again.

"Our church there served as a kind of information disseminating area" on
the day of the shooting, Oba said. "The Red Cross also set up a
gathering station there on the church parking lot. And the church has
been open so people could use the telephone or the restroom or just sit
in the sanctuary for prayer."

An ecumenical meeting of pastors from around the Springfield-Eugene area
was planned for May 22 at St. Paul, to address how the religious leaders
could help the community in the wake of the tragedy. The pastors also
were available throughout the day to students and others needing
counseling.

"The men at the church told me it was open almost immediately and that
the student traffic there was very heavy," Monroe said.

Monroe himself spent a few hours providing counseling at
McKenzie-Willamette Hospital in Springfield, where many of the shooting
victims were taken. Afterward, he went to St. Paul and took over for
McIndoo, who had to leave that afternoon.

Monroe represented the church at a meeting for mental health counselors
at the school, then he returned to the church to continue working with
laity in helping students and parents.

Later in the day, prayer services were held at St. Alice Catholic Church
and Springfield Lutheran Church, both near the hospital. A vigil at city
hall was planned for the evening of May 22.

The relief and counseling efforts continued on May 22. The school
district brought in counselors from across the state to help the
students. Students received help from trauma workers at the nearby
middle school. Monroe said he was going to meet with school officials
and try to determine what kind of support St. Paul can provide in the
days ahead.

People in nearby towns have driven to Springfield to offer help,
including a group of trauma workers who were meeting at a convention in
a nearby town, Monroe said.

"It's just been really impressive," Monroe said. "I'm proud to be around
this."

First United Methodist Church in Eugene also has been busy helping in
the wake of the shooting. Four teachers and the school nurse from
Thurston High are members of First Church.

Monroe said he received a message from a United Methodist pastor in
Jonesboro, Ark., where the community was rocked this year by a similar
incident of children shooting children. "His congregation was upholding
our community in prayer," Monroe said.

A Positive Solutions for Youth Conference is planned for June 16  at
Tigard United Methodist Church in the Portland area, said Marcey
Balcomb, director of youth and nurture, outreach and witness ministries
for the conference. The event will look at influences on youth, how to
handle pressure, conflict resolution, dealing with fears and similar
issues, she said. It will include a prayer vigil and a candlelight
service.

"It's a start," she said. "It's not all that we need to do, but it's a
beginning."

Balcomb can be reached at (800) 593-7539. Oba has made his office
available as a contact point for people wanting to offer aid. His phone
number is (541) 689-3725.

# # # 

United Methodist News Service
(615)742-5470
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