wfn.org | Presbyterians Help Families Affected by Colorado Rampage

[PCUSA NEWS <pcusa.news@ecunet.org>]

21-April-1999 
99160 
 
    Presbyterians Help Families 
    Affected by Colorado Rampage 
 
    by John Filiatreau 
 
LITTLETON, Colo. - The five Presbyterian churches of Littleton have been 
ministering to families affected by a murderous shooting spree in a local 
high school April 20. 
 
    Fifteen people were killed and more than 25 others were hospitalized in 
serious or critical condition after two disgruntled junior students opened 
fire on students and staff members at Columbine High School. 
 
    Bob Barnes, a representative of the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance 
program with extensive experience in critical-incident stress debriefing 
and other trauma work, was on the scene by Wednesday afternoon. 
 
    Barnes' assignment was to "assess the situation and see what needs to 
be done," according to Stanley Hankins, the Worldwide Ministries Division's 
associate for disaster assistance in the United States.  Hankins told the 
Presbyterian News Service that the church stands ready to use its resources 
to address the short- and long-term needs of the people of Littleton. 
 
    The five churches are St. James Presbyterian, First Presbyterian, 
Genesis Presbyterian, Grace Presbyterian, and Columbine United 
Presbyterian, an ecumenical church with members who belong to the 
Presbyterian, Methodist and United Church of Christ denominations. 
 
    The Rev. Janet Schlenker, stated clerk of Denver Presbytery, said that 
one of the students shot and wounded in the attack was a member of 
Columbine United Presbyterian. Schlenker said April 21 that student was in 
critical condition. 
 
    She said presbytery officials were not aware of any other victims who 
belonged to Presbyterian congregations, but information was sketchy. 
 
    "We have not even been able to make contact with the pastors of our 
churches," Schlenker said. "They have been on the scene, out in the 
community." 
 
    She said the Littleton schools have open enrollment, which means that 
students from all parts of the city attend Columbine High. All Littleton 
schools were shut down Wednesday, but many had opened their doors to 
youngsters and families needing a place to gather. 
 
    Schlenker said the Columbine church had become a gathering place and 
"disbursement center" for disaster-aid workers. She said the presbytery had 
assigned pastors, pastoral staff, retired ministers and youth ministers to 
several other places in the community where families affected by the 
shootings were gathering. 
 
    She said one of the churches had had a special service Tuesday night 
and another was planning a service for Wednesday evening. Two of the 
churches scheduled a joint service for Sunday evening, at the high school 
if possible. 
 
    The Rev. Ed Craxton, associate for Christian education in the 
Congregational Ministries Division, said a group of 12 to 15 people 
representing the three ministerial divisions of the General Assembly 
Council - Congregational, National and Worldwide - met Wednesday morning in 
a brainstorming session to plan the denomination's response to the tragedy 
in Colorado and "collect the resources that would be helpful." 
 
    "We're trying to respond to the needs of Presbyterian congregations 
around the country," Craxton said. "Just this morning, our youth department 
has had more than 35 calls, many from congregations that have youth group 
meetings scheduled for tonight." 
 
    He said Congregational Ministries is offering liturgical resources, 
including prayers and scripture readings, for use in services this Sunday. 
 
    "I'd say the primary need right now is for all of us to hold those 
[Littleton] families and youth in our prayers," Craxton said. 
 
    Hankins said Presbyterian Disaster Assistance was making available 
"printed resources and also "human resources" for people affected directly 
or indirectly by the shootings, but there was no need to set up a special 
disaster-aid account for the Littleton victims. 
 
    Asked what concerned Presbyterians might do to help, he replied, "I 
would say pray for the community and for the families that have lost 
children and loved ones." 

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