Gun Violence Prevention News for Congregations

Presbyterian Peace Fellowship Gun Violence Prevention Looking for a Sign to Attend the Atwood Institute? This is It ! Still thinking about the Atwood Institute? Aug. 30 is now the very last day to register for this gun violence prevention training for congregations Sept. 15-18 near Kansas CIty, MO. Why Come? Learn how to effectively communicate about this issue, from the adult education class to sharing our own stories to the pulpit to the public square. Learn what's working in the urban centers of the midwest. Learn how to help your community heal from the trauma and fear of gun violence. Learn what's working now to save lives. Plus, find a spiritual community to keep us all going --and transform a gun into a garden tool. Fair warning: You may be transformed too! Scholarships available only till Aug. 26. Learn More - Register Here Frequently Asked Questions HERE. See the Atwood Institute Schedule HERE. Meet the Faculty HERE. Find a recent news story about the Atwood Institute HERE. Learn More - Register Here Thanks to Generous Sponsors, Scholarships are Available till Aug. 26 Atwood 2026 Sponsors: Sponsor/Donate Here/Atwood Institute 2026 More Gun Violence Prevention Opportunities Sept. 30 - Oct. 28 Protecting Children from Gun Violence Fall Action Circles on Zoom, Free 1 hour weekly, Noon ET. Learn more HERE. Oct. 8 - Nov. 12 Guns to Gardens Fall Action Circles on Zoom, 1 hour weekly, Noon ET or 7:30 pm ET, Free. Learn more HERE. Nov. 3 Election Day Are you sure that your voter registration is current? Check HERE. Encourage others to check too. Atwood Institute Register Here. Above, the late Rev. James Atwood, Presbyterian prophet of gun violence prevention. In almost 50 years of witness, Jim described the church as "God's spiritual alarm clock" to wake up the nation that gun violence is not inevitable. "We do not have to live this way." Photo: Della Orr-Harter 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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WCC News: Team from Cuba begins drafting Week of Prayer for Christian Unity materials for 2028

A team from Cuba has joined an international editing team to begin drafting the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity materials for 2028. The resources are being prepared jointly with Catholic and Protestant Christians from Cuba, including the staff and students of the Seminario Evangélico de Teología in Matanzas City.  The international editing team of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2028 resources convening at the St Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in Boynton Beach, Florida (US) from 23-27 August. Photo: WCC 26 August 2026 The theological seminary in Matanzas City is celebrating its 80th anniversary in 2026. Local clergy from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Matanzas are also part of the Cuban drafting team. The editing team is convening its annual meeting at the St Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary, a Roman Catholic seminary in Boynton Beach, Florida (US) from 23-27 August. The theme for 2028 is “You give them something to eat,” based on Mark 6:37. President and rector of the St Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary, Very Rev. Alfredo I. Hernández said: “It has been a privilege for St Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary to host the international team charged with preparing materials for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2028. Our bilingual seminary has been an appropriate place to welcome a group that was originally scheduled to meet in Cuba. As a Cuban American myself, it has been a particular joy to welcome the members of the Cuban delegation, Catholic and Protestant, all of them from my parents’ home province of Matanzas. When January 2028 comes around, we will have a particular impetus to devote ourselves to praying with the theme: ‘You give them something to eat.’” The meeting was chaired jointly by Rev. Dr Mikie Roberts, World Council of Churches programme executive for Spiritual Life and Faith and Order and Rev. Fr Martin Browne (Order of Saint Benedict) of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity.  Roberts, in reflecting on the theme chosen for 2028, said: “While the 6th World Conference on Faith and Order in 2025 raised the question – Where now for visible unity? – the 2028 resources for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity invite us to explore how we can pray and work together for Christian unity using a diaconal model. The Seminario Evangélico de Teología has for 80 years played a vital role in fostering diaconal ecumenism, which has been strengthened the prophetic and united witness of Christians in Cuba.”  The resources will be translated and distributed after the 2027 observances of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in the Northern Hemisphere in January and later in the Southern Hemisphere after the feast of Pentecost.  Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2027 resources available worldwide (WCC news release, 19 June 2026) Learn more about the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 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

Living into Right Relations: The New National Indigenous Council, Orange Shirt Day, Grassy Narrows Rally, and more.

Reconciliation and Indigenous Justice News from The United Church of Canada National Indigenous Spiritual Gathering 2026 Concludes with Hope [Image credit: The United Church of Canada] The 2026 National Indigenous Spiritual Gathering (NISG), held on traditional Algonquin Territory, marked an important milestone in the journey toward a self-determining Indigenous Church with the covenanting and affirmation of a new 15-member National Indigenous Council (NIC). The council will play a central role in shaping the future of the autonomous Indigenous Church and guiding its work in the years ahead.  The new NIC brings together Indigenous leaders from across the church, including younger members whose participation offers particular hope for the future. The members of NIC include Julia Walker, Morgan Ryder, Nathan Beardy, Craig Bartlett, Jordan Spence, Elenor Thompson, Teresa Snow, Bruce Kakakaway, Samantha Miller, Elda Anderson, Rosalind Antone, Sandra Campbell, Shane Goldie, Stan McKay, and Dawn Antone. The appointment of the NIC follows work by the National Indigenous Elders Council and Indigenous communities to establish a new leadership structure rooted in Indigenous protocols, traditions, and a commitment to inclusive governance. The NISG gathering celebrated this new beginning while recognizing that significant work remains ahead.  Read the full news announcement to find out more. Orange Shirt Day and National Truth and Reconciliation 2026 [Image credit: The United Church of Canada]   September 30 marks Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a time to honour Residential School Survivors, remember the children who never returned home, and affirm that Every Child Matters.   The United Church of Canada invites communities of faith to order and wear a bilingual Every Child Matters / Chaque Enfant Compte shirt featuring The United Church of Canada crest. Wearing an Orange Shirt is one way to participate in acts of remembrance, reflection, learning, and solidarity.   As a church, we acknowledge the harms caused by the Residential School system and its ongoing impacts on First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities. We remain committed to walking the path of truth, justice, healing, and right relations through continued learning and meaningful action.   Order your Orange Shirt on the United Church Bookstore website.  EVERY CHILD MATTERS is a trademark owned by the Orange Shirt Society and is used under license. Shirts are sold at cost, reflecting garment and printing production expenses. A new worship resource for National Healing and Reconciliation Sunday will be available soon on the worship resource page.    Sioux Lookout Memorial for Unmarked Graves [Photo credit: by Joan Cosco, member of the Municipal Truth and Reconciliation committee]   St. Andrew’s United Church, Sioux Lookout, Ontario collaborated with local Indigenous organizations and the municipality to develop a permanent site for remembering and honouring individuals, who died and were buried at or near residential institutions. On June 24, 2026 the former Memorial Site was blessed and closed in ceremony and the new Memorial Site on the shores of Pelican Lake was dedicated. The gathering was opened with a pipe ceremony and drum songs by elder Tom Chisel and Dieter Sainniwap. The children’s shoes and memorabilia remaining were blessed and gathered in a blanket. Several people recalled the original event in 2021. A member of St. Andrew’s United Church spoke of the role of the churches in running residential institutions, the request for apologies, and the ongoing need for reconciliation work. At the closing of this part of the day, the shoe bundle was transported to the new site. It was humbling to see a heart shaped mark of bare grass where the shoes had sat over the last few months. Most of the people at this ceremony walked in procession to the new site, which is close to Pelican Lake. The new memorial features a display board which describes the original memorial and the partners who created the new one. Attendees, beginning with survivors and their family members, added to the plantings. In the future, bronze plaques to honour local healing and reconciliation leaders and a wood sculpture will be added to the site. The Justice and Reconciliation Fund provided a grant to support this project. Applications for projects taking place in 2027 may be submitted by the next deadline of September 15, 2026. 40th Anniversary of The United Church of Canada's 1986 Apology to Indigenous Peoples [Image credit: Kim Uyede-Kai]   Forty years after The United Church of Canada’s 1986 Apology to Indigenous Peoples, more than 100 people gathered in Sudbury to remember, witness, and recommit to the work of reconciliation. The Rev. Kellie McComb reflected on attending the original Apology as a member of the 31st General Council Youth Forum. The Very Rev. Dr. Stan McKay spoke of the Apology as a covenant and emphasized the importance of consultation with Indigenous peoples. Participants also reflected on a question posed by Anishnaabe Elder Art Solomon after the original Apology: “What are you going to do about it?” They responded by painting commitments on stones and adding them to the commemorative cairn—a reminder that reconciliation calls for continual, meaningful action. Read the full news story. Join the Grassy Narrows River Run [Image credit: Grassy Narrows River Run] For decades, Grassy Narrows First Nation has faced devastating harm from mercury poisoning, with lasting impacts on the community’s health, culture, and livelihoods. On September 23, United Church communities of faith across the country are invited to stand in solidarity with Grassy Narrows by amplifying the community’s message or joining the United Church contingent at the River Run. The Toronto rally begins at noon at Grange Park. Learn more and join the call for mercury justice. Facebook Website Email Instagram YouTube

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