American Baptist Leaders Respond to Recent Violence, Shootings

This week, American Baptist leaders have responded to the recent shootings in California, New York and Wisconsin.

American Baptist Churches USA General Secretary Dr. C. Jeff Woods released a statement saying, "The recent shootings in Orange County, California at the Geneva Presbyterian Church, in Buffalo, New York, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin remind us of the deep and destructive hate that exists in so many people today. These shootings are a reminder that we are losing too many human lives to gun violence. We pray for the families and friends of the victims and for all those affected by these shootings. We also pray for discernment and fortitude to be about gospel work that opens our own eyes and hearts to the deep rooted causes of violence and transforms our learned ways of interpreting and responding to acts of hate and violence." Read the full statement here.

The American Baptist Churches of New York State sent a letter of prayer and support to its churches and community on Monday morning following Saturday shooting in Buffalo, New York. Read the statement here.

On behalf of the American Baptist Home Mission Societies, Executive Director Dr. Jeffrey Haggray released a statement noting that "[ABHMS] expresses heartfelt condolences to the victims and family members of those slain during [the] brazen act of racially motivated violence on May 14, 2022, in Buffalo, New York. We stand in solidarity with the people of Buffalo, while praying for comfort on the part of all those stricken by grief due to this massacre." Read the full statement here.