wfn.org | UCC / School tragedy lamented by church leaders

[BARBARA_POWELL.parti@ecunet.org (BARBARA POWELL)]

Office of Communication
April 22, 1999
United Church of Christ
Rose Anne Grasty, press contact
(216) 736-2213
E-mail:  grastyr@ucc.org
On the web:  http://www.ucc.org

Tragedy in Colorado lamented by church leaders

CLEVELAND-- In the wake of this week's tragic events in
Littleton, Colo., the  Rev. Paul H. Sherry, President of the 1.4
million-member United Church of Christ, issued the following
pastoral message of condolence and support:

"We grieve for the families and loved ones of the students and
teachers who were killed or injured at Columbine High School
in Littleton, Colo., even as we pray for God's sustaining
presence with them and with all who have been affected by
these tragic events.

"In the immediate days ahead, I urge our churches across the
country to enter into prayer and deliberation about the
situation in Littleton and other similar events in recent years. 
Why are these things happening?  What can we do together to
put a halt to them?

"Our children, all of us, need and deserve to live and mature in
a world devoid of the ugliness of violence and death.  Even as
we grieve, let us all recommit to help build that world."

Sherry's comments echo those of other religious leaders. The
Rev. Dr. Staccato Powell, of the National Council of Churches
National Ministries Unit, expressed "sorrow to the families of
the victims, to students and the entire Littleton, Colo.,
community." 

The poignancy of the events in Colorado has been felt
throughout the world. The Rev. Rupert Hamira, Botswana
Synod Secretary of the United Congregational Church of
Southern Africa, offered words of comfort to the afflicted
families.  In a message of sympathy and solidarity, he
identified school as "a place of learning, development, growth
and a building of friendship ties that last for the whole of
one's life."  He reminded all Americans that "life is eternal,
love is immortal, and death is only a horizon, and a horizon is
nothing save a limit [to] our vision."
                    
The United Church of Christ, with national offices in
Cleveland, has more than 6,000 local churches in the United
States and Puerto Rico.  It was formed by the 1957 union of
Congregational Christian Churches and the Evangelical and
Reformed Church.

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