A devotional written on the 8th anniversary of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings …

Posted on December 14, 2020 by Pastor Kris

Monday, December 14th

[Reference: Habakkuk 3:17-18]


December 14 is a date etched in my brain and occupies permanent space in my heart.  It was on Friday, December 14, 2012 that a lone gunman entered Sandy Hook Elementary School just as classes started and killed 20 first-graders and 6 school staff members.  On Saturday morning, I tore the sermon I’d written into shreds and began again.  It was the 3rd Sunday in Advent – the morning when we would light the Joy candle. 


I was feeling anything but joy and began my newly-written sermon from a tear-stained manuscript using an illustration from the children’s book, Alexander and the Terrible Horrible No Good Very Bad Day.  A book that tells the story of first grader Alexander and all the things that go wrong with his day – he drops his sweater in the sink, he doesn’t get the window seat in carpool, his teacher hates his drawing, no snack in his lunchbox, and more.  This, I said, this is as bad as any first-grader’s day should be.


I didn’t realize that morning that I was also beginning a new phase of my ministry.  One of activism on the issue of gun violence.  Soon after, together with my life partner, we founded the organization, God Before Guns.  In retirement from active pastoral ministry, we continue that work, believing that we are authentically living out God’s call. 


But back to Joy Sunday.  In 2012 just days after the shooting, the text was from Philippians 4:4-7:  Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I will say, Rejoice.


How could we possibly rejoice? 


We did because we remembered that Paul was in prison and facing execution when he wrote this letter of extreme encouragement to the church despite his personal circumstances.  In that context, we could light that 3rd candle with the confidence that we were not the first to suffer loss nor were we alone in our collective grief.  There was comfort in that, and we were grateful for church tradition and rituals that allowed our tears while also giving us the strength to see beyond them. 


For this December 14, 2020 as I remember and grieve senseless and tragic loss of life, I chose words from the Prophet Habakkuk.  Before he spoke these words, he engages in a very courageous debate with God.  He calls God out on God’s promise of justice vs God’s failure to act.  He demands to be heard, and though he’s considered a minor prophet, there’s not another who is more confrontational with God.  He laments, why do you make me see this, God?


Did you ever ask a question out loud and as soon as the words have left your lips, you knew the answer?  Habakkuk knew why.  He didn’t want to see the injustice.  He didn’t want to know about the violence around him.  None of us want to see or to know.  But we have to see.  We have to know. 


We need to see and to know so we can be angry.  Anger might seem counter-intuitive to a season of joy, but it is not.  In order for there to be joy in our world, it will take prophetic anger that brings injustice out of the shadows and makes it visible.  And so, Habakkuk can rejoice because he trusted that with God’s help, we can do better. 


We could write our own verses of lament listing our 2020 troubles. There are many.   Just remember to follow your lament with the prophet’s words: yet I will rejoice in the Lord.  Because we can rejoice if we stand where God calls us to stand calling for an end to violence and injustice. We can always rejoice because there is nothing more precious to the heart of God than justice and peace for all of God’s people. 

Rev. Kristine Eggert
Co-Founder and Director, God Before Guns
pastorkriscleve@gmail.com

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Reading During Covid …

Posted on November 23, 2020 by Pastor Kris

[June 28, 2021, an update to this list of books read during Covid. Though we’re vaccinated and out in the world again, we are still taking time to read in the mornings. We don’t get to it every day, with yoga and family travel taking time away, but it still feels important to continue this on the days that we can. So, to update, we have also read:

Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson

The Tyranny of Merit: What’s Become of the Common Good by Michael J. Sandel

Dusk, Night, Dawn: On Revival and Courage by Anne Lamott

and we are midway through The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together by Heather McGhee ]

I don’t know what I would have done these past 8 months of mostly sheltering in place at home without books. I managed during the weeks the library was shut down by borrowing books electronically — not my first choice but definitely a life-saver this year. I read mostly (if not almost exclusively) fiction, now freed in retirement from the responsibility of reading for my work as a pastor. I have already met my annual 100 book challenge with more than a month still to go. For the first time in my adult life, I have nearly unlimited time to read what I want to read. But this is not about the fiction I’ve read — if you’re interested, you can follow me on Goodreads.

Fiction preference aside, I’m also a compulsive reader of the news and confess that I spend far too much time refreshing Twitter to see what is the latest breaking story. Reading the news is how David and I start our day. In our favorite chairs with steaming hot cups of coffee, and has there even been plenty of news to read this year! So much that we decided that we needed to add another piece to starting our mornings.

This was the first time since we’ve been together that we’ve had so much free time. Another first was that we are in a high risk category for Covid. We are used to showing up for the causes we believe in. And now so much in our communities that requires response, and neither one of us able to do what we do best — to show up and act in the ways we can. We are people of faith (though not particularly meditative) so we found ourselves yearning for something more than news or fiction. We started reading a poem a day from a book by John O’Donohue. Together. Aloud. We read in no particular order, rather we chose what spoke to us for that day. Each poem generated conversation, reflection, and sometimes even tears. We were surprised at how relevant his 2008 writing was to 2020 pandemic focused situations. I highly recommend if you’ve not already discovered this gem of a book.

When we finished, we realized how important this 20 minutes or so had become, so we searched for more to read together. Here’s a list so far of what we’ve read. It’s a combination of social justice focused and faith related. I hope you will find something of interest among these books, but I confess that I mostly just want to write them down so I don’t forget! I won’t take the time to link each book, but a description of each can be found on goodreads.com.

To Bless the Space Between Us by John O’Donohue

Rest for the Justice Seeking Soul by Susan K. Williams Smith

White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk about Racism by Robin DiAngelo

How to Be an Anti-Racist by Ibram X. Kendi

Healing the Heart of Democracy: The Courage to Create a Poitics Worthy of the Human Spirit by Parker Palmer

and also by Palmer, On the Brink of Everything: Grace, Gravity, and Getting Old

The Time is Now: A Call to Uncommon Courage by Joan D. Chittester

On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century by Timothy Snyder

and we’re just starting Snyder’s, Our Malady: Lessons in Liberty from a Hospital Diary.*

We took a break from reading aloud from books to read the 1,000 names as printed in the Sunday NY Times on May 24, as Covid deaths reached 100,000. Each name gave in addition to the person’s name, the age, a city and state and a brief sentence about the person. It took us 8 days to read all the names. We felt that by saying each person’s name aloud, we were honoring their lives. I wonder if there will be other such listings as we reach future deadly milestones.

I’m sure we’ll be adding to the list. Sheltering in place is not over. We’re sad of course not to be celebrating Thanksgiving in our usual ways with family. But we have each other and a common cause of doing what we can for justice and peace in our troubled country.

And, hey, the good news is: as long as we’re inside and it’s only us — we don’t have to wear a face mask!

#WearAMask. We do.

Pastor. Parent. Activist.

*if you have any recommendations, we’re happy to consider them.

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Friday the 13th (Redux)

Posted on November 13, 2020 by Pastor Kris

There are not many markers along the way during months of sheltering in place during a pandemic. But because ours began on Friday, March 13, and today it’s Friday November 13, it seemed an occasion worth noting. Little has changed for David and me during these 8 months but the seasons. We began this in late winter, made it through the entirety of spring and summer, and now we’re into late fall. This morning we celebrated (not sure that’s exactly the word I want) by taking yet another hike through a Cleveland Metropark. It’s been our Covid practice at least once, if not twice, weekly. It was a brisk 45 degrees this morning with a stiff breeze felt near the Lake, but not bad for mid-November. In a normal year, I’d be looking forward to hibernating inside, reading books in front of the fireplace and cooking. But I’ve had plenty of time for that during the last 8 months, so this winter I’m committed to spending as much time outdoors as I can stand. I’ll cook and read when I come back indoors.

Because when I’m outdoors I

… think less about what I’m missing, what I can’t do and who I can’t see.

… listen to tweeting birdsong, rather than being angry at the other kind.

… resist any temptation to buy expensive pointed-toe colored flats (I think they’re called Rothy’s) and instead am so glad I bought a good pair of wide toe-box hiking boots.

… appreciate free access to a Great Lake and urban forests minutes from our home.

… celebrate having a body that despite being an aging one is still agile enough to walk and climb.

… realize that it’s been months since I carried a purse, but my backpack is getting lots of use.

…say to myself: so OK we’re not going to a chic restaurant (ever again?) but our backyard birds keep us entertained through the window while we’re dining at home. The birds are eating better than ever with peanuts, sunflower seed, suet, and thistle, and they don’t seem to mind being watched.

… realized today that wearing a mask keeps your face warm on a chilly day (Yay!)

… see enough other people to know that I’m not alone. When hiking, there’s a natural social distance, and I acknowledge our solidarity with a wave and a smile they can’t see but I hope they know it’s there behind my mask.

… though there is no end in sight to the pandemic, when you walk a loop trail, you know when you’re done!

… am so very grateful for our health — physical and mental — and recommit myself to doing what it takes as long as is necessary to stay healthy.

… hope and pray that by the next Friday the 13th which comes in August 2021, our country will have strong leadership in place, a citizenry who look out for each other, and a vaccine that is accessible to all who need it.

May God continue to guide us through these months of pandemic with extra blessings on those essential workers who risk their own health to get us through.

I

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Churches are essential …

Posted on June 19, 2020 by Pastor Kris

[A note:  This opinion piece was written on May 25, 2020 and was accepted for publication by cleveland.com for on-line and print in the Plain Dealer.  Later on that same day, the news broke of George Floyd being killed by 8 minutes, 46 seconds of a policeman’s knee on his neck.  Though the Opinion Editor assured me they still planned to use this piece, I withdrew it.  I still believe in what I wrote, but with increasingly limited space in newspapers, there was just more critical subject matter to be covered.]

Here’s what I wrote:

Places of worship are essential.

Not to those who never or rarely attend.  But to the 45% of Americans who attend worship at least monthly, you’d get little argument.   To the hundreds of families, I served as their pastor, regular church attendance was essential.  For some, it had been essential for their entire lives, from birth to death.

The people I served didn’t need the president to tell them church is essential, as he did.  In a hurried announcement timed to coincide with Memorial Day weekend, he threatened governors if they refused to follow his wishes.  Few took his threat seriously, believing an American president has no such overriding power.  I am a retired pastor who keeps touch with hundreds of colleagues across the country.  None of them suddenly opened their buildings for worship on May 24.  Churches in Ohio were never required to close, though most followed the restrictions of Governor DeWine’s March 23 Stay-at-Home order.

The president’s careless words disrespect the intense planning that church staffs are engaged in for when they can reopen.  His brash bravado implies the work of the church hasn’t happened because their buildings have been closed.  He could not be more wrong.  Churches still worship every Sunday morning, hold mid-week bible studies, small group discussions, hours of prayer, etc.  Churches do this on-line with YouTube, Zoom, Facebook Live, and conference calls.  Some are quite skilled with large technology budgets.  Others are learning as they go.  It doesn’t matter.  Jesus says when two or three are gathered, he is there among them.  That is a promise kept whether we are together in a pew or seeing each other as small squares on a video screen.

Church is not just weekly worship.  The outreach ministries that happen beyond church walls and with persons who might never attend worship, are what give authenticity to being Christian.  Our president fails to recognize the outpouring of love as shown through church- based feeding ministries for just one example.  During the pandemic, a group of churches launched a new community food distribution in Shaker Heights.  Another church in South Euclid greatly expanded its monthly effort, now handing out bags of much-needed groceries in their parking lot, while they are masked and maintaining social distance.  They do home delivery for seniors and others with health risks.

A Rocky River church gives public Christian witness by having white flags in their church yard – one for every person who has died in Ohio from Covid19.  A Lakewood church started a fund for families affected by loss of jobs.  Churches held virtual celebrations for graduating seniors.  Another pastor offers a challenge to join her in a daily reading aloud of the names of 1,000 of the recently deceased published in the Sunday New York Times.  By speaking their names, we honor their lives. The National Council of Churches streamed an ecumenical memorial service, A Time to Mourn, which gave loving tribute to all who have died with sacred music and heartfelt prayers.

Churches are not closed.  Essential church is happening.

Pastors have figured out how to provide pastoral care, how to preside at on-line and socially distanced funerals.  As early, if not first, responders, pastors recognize the heavy grief carried by so many who are unable to be with dying loved ones.  They care for the hardships of being newly unemployed.    Pastors’ work through these difficult days has indeed been essential.   They are not in a hurry to open their buildings because pastors are acutely aware of people’s vulnerabilities.  They will not put their congregations at risk of catching and spreading the virus.

Christian activist, Shane Claiborne wrote: “Wouldn’t it be great if churches were the last places to reopen because of how obsessed we are with loving our neighbors and protecting the most vulnerable?”

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Preaching during Covid …

Posted on June 19, 2020 by Pastor Kris

One of the few perks of Staying-At-Home during the pandemic has been the ability to attend a variety of churches Of course the attendance is virtual and on Zoom. With services being streamed at different times and in different time zones, with others saved on youtube for later viewing — I have been able to hear colleagues preach from all over the country and from right up the street.

I retired from every-week preaching in 2015, but I guest-preach when asked. I’ve missed those opportunities during Covid, but I did have the opportunity to preach at my home church (from my home) from May 17 after two months of staying in.

Here it is — live from my living room.

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I just can’t …

Posted on June 20, 2018 by Pastor Kris

I can’t stop thinking about the children.  And their parents.   Seeking asylum together in the United States.   Arriving at the border when immediately, suddenly, maliciously, and with devious intent,  children and parents are separated from each other.  This is happening with no plan in place to reunite them, with no information provided as to where the children are going, and with no communication allowed between them.

I can’t stop thinking about it all.

Most who know me know that I’m a Christian pastor.   Many do not know that before I became a pastor, I founded and directed a church-based preschool.  It was that work that led me to listen to voices around me and to finally accept that God was calling me to ordained ministry.   Now in retirement from full-time pastoral ministry, I live out that call through activism.  All of the work I’ve done through the years grew out of my love for family.  The family I grew up in.  The family I gave birth to and raised to adulthood.  God’s family that includes every single one of us.

When my own children were small,  they attended a cooperative nursery school.   Through my participation with them I learned as much — if not more — than they did.  I got to know the other children and their parents.  At the same time I began to recognize what church could do in a family’s life.  Church became the place where my family could learn more about God through people who love us, even the smallest of us.  And so, when my children were off to school, I took all I learned and poured it into developing a preschool program in my brand new church.  A small brand new church that grew large from opening its doors and its heart to families with children who came during the week and often discovered the place they wanted to be on Sunday mornings.  A place where they could learn and help others learn about God’s love through the love of others who are not our family.

This week I’m remembering especially the controlled chaos of arrival time for the youngest of the children — 18 month olds, 2 year olds — who just did not want Mommy to leave. Sometimes crying real tears, hanging on to Mommy’s leg for dear life.   It was only a small portion of the morning, but it was time we took seriously.   If Mommy or Daddy needed to stay a little longer to help ease in to the day, OK.  If it worked better for parents to leave quickly with a kiss on their children’s forehead handing them off to the loving and experienced caregiver’s arms, that was OK too.  Whatever worked.  But we had this one rule.  A critical one.  No parent was to sneak out of the room.  It was tempting not to, but we always enforced that parents had to say good-bye to their child and to give this promise:  I’ll be back.  Mommy always comes back.  Daddy will will pick you up at the end of the morning.  

Generally the tears stopped before Mommy drove out of the parking lot.  But not always.  Sometimes a favorite toy or a special little friend was exactly what was needed to console.  But even then, things would be fine when a child would suddenly remember that Mommy left her behind.  We could always ALWAYS reassure her that Mommy would be back.  Remember.  Mommy always comes back. 

35328696_10215307869503554_4678403095510646784_nBut what do you do when you know that in all likelihood Mommy won’t be back?  What do you do when a child has been ripped from her father’s arms.  Or from her mother’s breast.  How do you comfort when you don’t know the child’s name?  When he speaks a different language.  When she is too small to know how 35497249_10214634682093766_7243049813095219200_nto speak at all. How will the day get any better if you’re not allowed to touch the child.  Or when you’re under strict instructions that big brother must not hug his baby brother.  When those in your charge are locked in cages.   Locked in cages.  For what must seem like forever to one of God’s little ones.  It seems like forever because there is no one there the child recognizes who tells her that it will get better.    No one who says, and until it gets better, at least we will be together.

These parents could not promise their children anything.  That parental responsibility was stolen from them the moment their children were taken.    They cannot reassure their children that they will be together again.  No one knows when or even if that will happen.  They don’t even know where they are.

I have listened to the audio of children crying, calling out for their Mommy’s and Daddy’s. Have you?  You can’t unhear it once you’ve listened, but I believe that you must.  If anything about this is to change, we must see and hear for ourselves.   My own children are all grown up, and my grandchildren are safe and well-loved by parents and grandparents and their caregivers in preschool.  I would promise them the world if I could.  But making a promise to them is not enough.  There are other families who are not safe.  They too are God’s children.  They too are our responsibility.  We must promise them that this terror will end.

My promise is this:  I will not stop thinking about these children at the border until this horror ends.  I will call my Senators and Representatives again and again.  I will tell them that we must not play politics, delay votes, or compromise these precious lives in any way.  Every day matters in their young lives.  I will march when it is appropriate.  I will vote and I will work to bring others to the polls with me. Voting for those who will live and legislate the ideals of our nation.  I will be present when I can, and I will give of my resources when I cannot.

I will pray.  For the courage to speak truth to power.  For the same persistence to be there for other children that I  just naturally have for my own.  I will pray for an end to the immediate trauma to these children and to be reunited with their parents.  Soon.  Without delay.  I will pray that there be not one more child held in a prison, alone, scared, and without hope.  I will pray for them to receive whatever care they need for the trauma that they will carry with them throughout their lives.

I will pray through my anger for anyone who is actively involved in this horror or anyone passively accepting of it.  Anyone who dares to call this summer camp, or normal toddler crying behavior or makes light of this dire situation in any way.   Anyone who holds children as ransom for a wall or a political agenda.  I believe God expects me to be angry and for that anger to fuel my actions towards saving these children.

I just can’t accept this and move on.  And I won’t. 

Pastor.  Parent.  Activist.  

 

 

 

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Guns in Churches?

Posted on November 8, 2017 by Pastor Kris

Written for Disciples Peace Fellowship in the wake of the massacre at First Baptist Church, Sutherland Springs, TX.  Parts of this were first published as Opponent Testimony to a bill that would allow guns in churches to the State Government Committee of the Ohio Legislature on June 10, 2015.)

Like many of you, I was horrified to learn of the most recent mass shooting in our country.  Like many of you, I spent the morning in church. Heights Christian Church, a Disciples of Christ congregation in Cleveland, OH.  It was All Saints Sunday which always seems to bring tears, even when the deaths we are honoring are not my own family or people I even knew particularly well.  The previous Sunday, my husband and I led a discussion during the adult education hour about gun violence.  We began with referencing our denomination’s resolution that called Disciples congregations to responsibility and action in working to reduce gun violence deaths and injuries.   The timing of this particular conversation was in the aftermath of the largest gun massacre in modern history – the killing of 58 people and injuring of 500 more at an outdoor concert venue in Las Vegas.

Sadly, just one week after our presentation, the need for the conversation was quickly back again, in our faces and breaking our hearts.  My husband and I lead an organization, God Before Guns. Through our work we are aware that a conversation about what to do about gun violence could happen on any given day.  It is the mass shootings that capture our attention, if fleetingly.  But on any given day, more than 100 people will be shot and killed. The numbers of gun deaths are climbing.  Twice that number will be injured, many with lifelong disabilities.

We expect what we get after a mass shooting.  This is not the time to talk about guns.  It’s too soon.  Don’t make this political.  It’s not the guns.  There’s nothing we can do.  It’s the price of freedom.  Our thoughts and prayers.  Etc.  Etc.  Etc.  Although this time we are already hearing from the Texas Attorney General, Ken Paxton, who says that this is going to happen again and that more church members need to be armed for their own protection.  It is not the first, nor likely the last time we have been told that if only more people had been armed, a tragedy like this could have been prevented.

Compelling to consider?  After all, no one wants more people shot in church on a Sunday morning. Perhaps, but it’s just not true that more guns means fewer deaths.  Only 10% of all mass shootings in our country happen in gun-free zones.  That means 90% of them happen where guns are allowed.  More guns do not make us safer.  We might also consider that if only there had been a good guy with a gun, these shootings would not have happened.  That too is not supported with any credible evidence. More people armed in a situation can make it difficult for first responders to find who the actual shooter is, as happened most recently at the Wal-Mart shootings in Colorado.

But when we’re talking about church, this conversation takes on so much more than statistics or politics or any misinterpretation of the 2nd Amendment.  Because my work and home are in Ohio, some of this is Ohio-specific.  For more about our stance on guns in churches, go to our website.  Please read on:

I am a Christian pastor who believes that faith communities have traditionally been – and must continue to be – places of sanctuary.   By definition:  Sanctuary is a sacred place.  By definition:  Sanctuary is a safe haven.  Church fits both definitions.  Church is where we go to commune with God, together with others.  Church is a house of prayer and encouragement.  Church must be inclusive of all persons.  Church is a place of love and acceptance where we learn how to be God’s active messengers of love, peace and justice in the world.

That message of love and acceptance and that place of sanctuary (both definitions) are especially important for our children and youth.  In the congregation I served in Cleveland Heights, I was pastor to a large number of middle school and high school youth and their parents.  Those youth attended several different school districts in Cuyahoga and surrounding counties.  To my surprise and shock, I became aware that every one of these children had been on school lockdown at some point in their schooling.  They not only knew the drill, they had seen it for real.  Some of our youth experienced the danger first-hand from that horrible February Monday when T.J. Lane shot and killed 3 high school students and caused lifelong injury to 2 others at Chardon High School.  Those teen-agers know the danger because they were there in cafeteria to witness it.  It was just months later when the Newtown massacre of first-graders happened, and as a pastor, I was once again faced with helping those kids deal with their fears and anxieties.  Our children know these situations are real.  They know they could be victims themselves.

It is especially critical now in these times of too much violence in our culture, that our children know church as sanctuary — definition safe haven.  A safe place where they can express their fears.  A safe place where they can freely talk about anything.  A safe place where they will not be bullied.  A safe place where weapons have no place.  From the advice of our local police department, we began displaying no weapons signs on all entry doors.  We did this to reinforce the current Ohio law in place that prohibits guns in places of worship — unless an individual church decides to permit them. In other words, no church that wants firearms is prevented from allowing them.  Legislation has been proposed to put the burden of responsibility on us to keep guns out.  With legislation that allows guns, even if we post No Guns Allowed signs, will they be ignored? Will churches need to go to the trouble and expense of metal detectors and bag inspection as a regular part of Sunday morning worship?  I pray not. 

In Ohio, there is no evidence that most churches want firearms on their premises.  There is no evidence that a majority of Ohio faith leaders are clamoring for more firearms in church.  And so, Ohio’s elected officials should not consider a new law that presumes that firearms are welcome in Ohio churches.  Nor should any new law force Ohio faith communities to take action to exclude them.  Instead, lawmakers in Columbus should consider the tens of thousands of people outside of the Statehouse who want their places of worship to remain places of peace.  Churches that are sanctuary – sacred spaces and safe havens – are a powerful presence that have positive and rippling effects on entire neighborhoods and communities.

Guns are dangerous.  The presence of a gun always increases the possibility of accidentally misplacing it and of accidentally discharging it.  The presence of a gun increases fear and the intimidation (whether intended or not) of other persons.  The presence of a gun increases the potential for deadly and injurious confrontation if the armed person loses his or her composure.  There are no compelling reasons to increase these dangers in churches because there is no credible evidence that churches with no guns allowed are any more dangerous than places where guns are permitted.  There is no credible evidence that allowing guns in churches will make people safer than they are without guns.  As to the rights of CCW permit holders to carry their firearms everywhere, these persons represent a very small minority of the adult population in Ohio.  Expanding their rights ignores the rights of all of the rest of us Ohioans who wish to have places where we can be free from being close to persons carrying concealed and loaded firearms.

As to guns being our protection:  A church looks to God as our ultimate source of protection.   As to wearing a gun in church even as we are passing the peace with others in the pews: As a follower of Jesus – as a Christian — I am called to a standard of loving my neighbor – a definition of neighbor that includes even my enemies.  It will take my lifetime to meet that standard.  If you are a Christian, you join me in that lifetime of work.  If we believe – and we legislate – that we can only safely interact with other people if we arm ourselves against them, we will never get even get close to that standard.

I am a follower of Jesus.  Jesus commands that we put away our swords.  Swords were the weapon of choice in the 1st century.  I believe Jesus would command us to do the same with today’s weapon of choice – a concealed carry gun.

There is no place for guns in our houses of worship.

Now, back to November 2017 and the call to arm ourselves in churches.  I call to your attention this portion of our denomination’s resolution:

FINALLY, BE IT RESOLVED that congregations within the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), along with the other expressions of the church, be encouraged to promote dialogue, cooperation, advocacy, and action that moves toward a reduction of gun violence and promotes anti-racist, pro-reconciling education in our communities and nations, and to consider making clear their commitment by openly declaring their properties gun-free zones where state and local laws do not already do so.

Nothing about arming ourselves as a solution.  I urge you to find out what your state’s existing laws are concerning guns in churches.  Find out if there is pending legislation and speak out against it.  Contact us at God Before Guns if we can be a resource for your congregation.

 

Rev Kristine Eggert

Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

Co-Founder of God Before Guns

Posted in Activism, Christian, Concealed Carry Guns, Ending Gun Violence, God Before Guns, Grief, gun safety, gun violence, Loss of Child, open carry guns, Pastoral Ministry, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Stay Woke …

Posted on October 13, 2017 by Pastor Kris

My response to the Las Vegas shootings and how people of faith must respond to the issue of gun violence in our country.

Posted in Activism, Ending Gun Violence, God Before Guns, gun safety, gun violence, open carry guns, Pastoral Ministry, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

A pulpit response to Charlottesville …

Posted on August 15, 2017 by Pastor Kris

If I’d had more time between Sunday morning and the horror of Saturday in Charlottesville, I would have said some hints differently.  Here is my effort, raw and unedited.  You can see my pain on my face.  I’m wearing my aching heart on my face.

Pastor.  Parent.  Activist.  

Posted in Activism, Charlottesville, Christian, Ending Gun Violence, God Before Guns, Grief, gun violence, LGBTQ, Loss of Child, open carry guns, Racism, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Tears and lamenting. Laughter and celebration. All while wearing orange …

Posted on June 7, 2017 by Pastor Kris

18838916_824455191041370_3653423704376654261_nEarly in the week when we were nervously checking the weather for God Before Guns’ 4th annual Walk & Rally, there was a 100% chance of rain for the duration of the event.  By Friday, there was not a cloud in the sky.  Friday, June 2, 2017.  National Gun Violence Awareness Day.  And the color of that day is Orange.  

Why Orange?  We wear Orange in honor and memory of 15 year old Hadiya Pendleton who was shot and killed on January 29, 2013 in Chicago — an unintended victim of gang-related gunfire.  This happened just two weeks after she had the honor of performing with her school marching band at President Barack Obama’s 2nd inauguration.  AFter her death, Hadiyah’s friends decided to wear Orange to commemorate her life.  Gun violence prevention advocates continue what they started.

 

Why Orange?  Hunters wear Orange to keep themselves safe in the woods.  To call attention to themselves to say I’m not the target.

Why Orange?  Because Orange demands to be seen.

18813199_10212980255962614_3627342373720250415_nGun violence is a huge issue in our country.  In the City of Cleveland where we live.  We walk across the bridge every year so we will be seen.  And on a Friday afternoon, we attracted the attention of hundreds of drivers heading home from the workweek.  With our signs held high for all to see, drivers honked in approval and agreement.   Anyone who stopped off after work for happy hour at bars and restaurants near the Rally18767373_824455394374683_7813527557637127062_n could hear the names read of the 32 young men, women, and children who died in our county this year at the wrong end of a gun.  They could hear the passion of longtime peace activist Khalid Samad who was at every single one of these funerals.  They could hear the distinctive, poetic, and authentically powerful voices of Distinguished Gentlemen of Spoken Word.

If18893001_10212980255522603_379640938611489635_n these hundreds of drivers and bystanders didn’t already know that gun violence is an issue, they do now.  They saw us.  In Orange.  We were difficult to ignore.  That is the point.

If you couldn’t make it this year.  If you didn’t know about us yet.  No worries.  We’ll be back next year.  But we won’t be idle until then.  Gun violence kills more than 90 people every day in our country.  There is a life and death 18835939_824455314374691_8158205082212503911_nurgency to this work.  This is an every day of the year activism.   You’ll recognize us because we’ll be the ones wearing Orange.  We invite you to join us.  We’ll even make sure you have a Orange shirt.  All you have to do is ask.  Follow our posts and calendar on Facebook, and join us for our next event.

Yes, there could be tears.  Yes, you’ll be faced 18835883_824455351041354_266995122419934135_nwith an awareness when you might rather have your head in the sand.  But you will be in the company of some very courageous people who choose to stand up and speak out, even when they are grieving the violent loss of someone dear.  That will inspire you.  You’ll be surrounded by ordinary people like us who have come to believe that we must be seen and heard in order for God’s will for justice and peace to be realized.  That will challenge you.

Imagine that world.  Then, respond.  For your children and grandchildren.   For the children who are more at risk than your own.

18880167_824455224374700_1911859853440431659_oThat’s where the celebration comes in.  When we see each other.  When we realize that we are in this together.  That we can and must do this.  Together and with God’s help.

Pastor.  Parent.  Activist.  

Posted in Activism, Black Lives Matter, Children, Ending Gun Violence, gun safety, gun violence, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment