The World Council of Churches (WCC) has offered prayers for peace in the USA while condemning acts of violence in recent days that have shocked the nation and people around the world.
Two recent fatal police shootings of black men in Louisiana and Minnesota once again prompted grief and heartbreak for the endemic racial violence present in the USA. Subsequently, during a protest in Dallas, gunman opened fire on police officers in the heart of the south-central US city, killing five officers and injuring nine others during protests.
Dr Agnes Abuom, Moderator of the WCC Central Committee, expressed her sorrow and her hope that escalating racial tensions and violence will abate. “We pray that all of us might be catalysts for change as we work against racism and discrimination that is the root cause for anger and, unspeakable violence,” she said. “We must come together globally and continue our movement as God’s people, giving hope to vulnerable people, people who have lost loved ones, people who are increasingly afraid in their daily lives.”
Prayers and statements of sorrow have streamed in from WCC member churches in the USA responding to the continuing police violence disproportionately experienced in black communities as well as the horrifying deaths of five police officers, targeted during a protest.
* The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, by the end of 2012 the WCC had 345 member churches representing more than 500 million Christians from Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other traditions in over 110 countries. The WCC works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church.
* World Council of Churches http://www.oikoumene.org/en
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Diaspora*
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