Gun Violence Prevention News for Congregations September

Presbyterian Peace Fellowship Gun Violence Prevention News for Congregations Sept. 2026 Welcome, New Readers Photo right: Tree of Life, British Museum, Wikipedia Commons Photo left: Canon Rosalind Hughes, of the Episcopal Diocese of Ohio, came upon this sculpture on a museum visit this summer. She writes: "The Tree of Life from Mozambique represents weapons given up in exchange for plows, sewing machines, a tractor. Being in the room with it was a visceral experience for me. It makes me even more grateful for all of you and the work that you do, in very different but similar lanes, for peace." As faith activists to prevent gun violence, let us be grateful for one another, all over the world. Amen. September is Suicide Prevention Month While we are making progress to reduce gun violence, gun suicide remains at peak levels. Johns Hopkins reports that over 27,000 Americans died by gun suicide in 2024. These were primarily older white men, especially veterans, but increasingly children, youth and people of color. A lectionary reading for September 27 is: Let each of you look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Phil. 2:4 Preventing gun suicide is a proactive way of looking after the interests of others, particularly those who are in crisis over relationships, employment, addiction, discrimination or bullying, money, mental or physical health. Below are resources to use and to share. Lord have mercy. Worship Bulletin Insert/Flier Download Free HERE Short Article on Gun Suicide as a Public Health Issue Article on how Guns to Gardens helped a familiy heal from suicide by Scotty Utz of RAWTools South "When You Fear Someone May Take their Life," in the PPF Gun Violence Prevention Congregational Toolkit, pages 48-50, 2025 Edition. Download Free Digital Toolkit  For more training in suicide prevention, see Asist Training and/or Extreme Risk Protection Order Webinar for Clergy Sept. 29 at 1:30pm ET by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg Center for Gun Violence Solutions Need Inspiration? 3 Great Ideas: 1 Order the new Prayerbook, How Long, Oh Lord Prayers for public and private use around the issue of gun violence, from Dr. Willie James Jennings, Rev. Bruce Reyes-Chow, and Rev. Julie Hester, with artwork by Sayde Anderson and Blake Johnson. Offered by the Presbyterian Decade to End Gun Violence. $15 Order HERE. Click Here to Watch the Keynote Address by Dr. Jer Swigart on Sept 15 at 7pm CT 2 Watch the keynote address for the Atwood Institute LIVE: Sept. 15, shortly after 8pm ET, 7CT or on PPF's Facebook page later 3 Join a Fall Action Circle! Protecting Children from Gun Violence Fall Action Circle on Zoom Sept. 30 - Oct. 28 1 hour weekly, Wednesdays, Noon ET. Free. Learn more HERE. Click Here to learn about Guns to Gardens Action Circles Guns to Gardens Fall Action Circles on Zoom Oct. 8 - Nov. 12 Thursdays, 1 hour Noon ET or 7:30 pm ET Free Thank You to our Generous Atwood Institute Sponsors 2026 Sponsors: Click here to support the Gun Violence Prevention Ministry of the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship. Gifts are tax-deductible. Thank you. presbypeacefellowship.org/gun-violence-prevention  Rev. Margery Rossi, Minister for Gun Violence Prevention margery@presbypeacefellowship.org Rev. Jan Orr-Harter, Editor & Moderator, Gun Violence Prevention Working Group gvp@presbypeacefellowship.org Presbyterian Peace Fellowship 845-786-6743 | presbypeacefellowship.org Instagram | Facebook | Twitter

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Action Needed: Say No to No Immunity for Big Oil!

We have an urgent request. We need you to make a call to ensure Big Oil is not granted immunity for climate damages caused by fossil fuels. We just learned that the House Judiciary Committee will hold a markup of H.R. 8330, a.k.a the Big Oil Immunity bill, this Wednesday, September 16th. This dangerous legislation would give Big Oil companies a broad legal shield against any laws or lawsuits seeking to hold them accountable for their role in the climate crisis. In essence, it seeks to put Big Oil above the law. It is critical that Members of Congress who serve on the House Judiciary Committee attend the markup and voice their opposition to this dangerous legislation. It’s time to make our voices heard: In this rapid response toolkit, you will find a list of Judiciary members and their DC office phone numbers as well as a short and simple call script. Please let me know if you have any questions and thank you for taking such swift action. In solidarity and hope, Rev. Amy Brooks Paradise, US Team Coordinator Follow GreenFaith on social media for rapid response updates as they're happening: Building a Worldwide, Multi-faith Climate and Environmental Movement.    1216 Broadway Floor 2 PMB 1005 New York, NY 10001 +1-917-997-8783 Copyright © 2022 GreenFaith - All rights reserved.

WCC news: WCC general secretary opens convocation in Korea: “The Kingdom of God is peace”

World Council of Churches general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay offered the opening sermon on 9 September at the 2026 International Ecumenical Peace Convocation in Seoul, Republic of Korea. Photo: NCCK 9 September 2026 Delivered in the Anglican Church of Korea, Seoul Cathedral, Pillay’s sermon was entitled "The Kingdom of God Has Come Near.” He acknowledged the 40th Anniversary of the Glion Consultation. “How wonderful it would have been if we gathered here to celebrate under different circumstances, a reunified Korea, but it seems that we are far from that today,” he said. “And so, my message to you today is to encourage you with the biblical message that assures us that the kingdom of God has come near even when we think it has not.” At Glion, Pillay noted, Christians from North and South Korea met during one of the most divided periods of modern history. “In a world shaped by the Cold War, they bore witness to a deeper allegiance: not first to competing political systems, but to the crucified and risen Christ,” he said. “Their meeting proclaimed that the Kingdom of God transcends every border, ideology, and human division.” Too many lives continue to be diminished by war, poverty, displacement, environmental destruction, and fear, Pillay continued. “Decades of division have left families separated, communities fractured, and generations shaped by memories of conflict,” he said. Even where open warfare has ceased, the wounds of history remain, Pillay reflected. “Without justice, peace becomes little more than the silence imposed by power,” he said. “For the Korean Peninsula, the pursuit of justice includes acknowledging suffering on all sides, honouring the dignity of every person, and creating conditions in which truth, accountability, compassion, and human flourishing can take root.” The Glion Consultation remains significant because it demonstrated that reconciliation begins with encounter, Pillay said. “People discovered one another not as enemies but as brothers and sisters in Christ,” he said. “As we remember the Glion Consultation, we honour those who believed that faith could build bridges where politics had built walls.” Read the full sermon Photo gallery 2026 International Peace Convocation to take place in Korea (WCC news release, 7 September 2026) See more

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, today the WCC brings together 356 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches Chemin du Pommier 42 Kyoto Building Le Grand-Saconnex CH-1218 Switzerland