Gun Violence Prevention July News for Congregations

Presbyterian Peace Fellowship Gun Violence Prevention News for Congregations - July 2025 Welcome, New Readers!  Thank you to all who joined in Wear Orange Days 2025! Photos: Members of Central Presbyteran Church, Denver; CO; Umstead Park United Church of Christ, Raleigh, NC; Village Presbyterian Church, Prairie Village, KS wear orange for Gun Violence Awareness Days 2025. We've been thinking..... A Message from the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship Gun Violence Prevention Ministry We watch each day as projects to prevent gun violence are wrecked: eliminating the Dept. of Education programs to prevent school shootings ....slashing the number of agents at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives who conduct background checks and curb illegal gun sales ...erasing data from government research sites on the causes and solutions for gun violence ....ending government funding for the suicide hotline for LGBTQIA+ youth ...legalizing accessories to turn legal guns into illegal machine guns. The list is growing. But we are growing too. The faith movement to prevent gun violence is bigger, broader, deeper and more resilient than ever in American history. While the strategy of chaos-shock-and-awe seeks to paralyze us, faith people know the antidotes to chaos. As the Wear Orange photos above show, even in a time for anger and grief, we are filled with love, and with the faith that God still stands for life, and that we will find a path forward. The photo of a child putting their gun violence prevention prayer on the bulletin board at a Kansas church gives us courage The antidotes to chaos are skill, courage and community. That's exactly why we are offering the Atwood Institute for Congregational Courage this September--- to grow our skills for gun violence prevention education and action, and to en-courage one another in a nationwide community of determination, hope and faith. We hope you will join us in Harrisonburg, VA. But, whatever next step is right for you, this is not a time to give up. This is a time to dig in, to gain skills, to keep going and to encourage one another. Thank you for all that you are doing to save lives. We are not alone in this moment: "For lo, I am with you always...." -Matthew 28:20 James Atwood Institute for Congregational Courage Sept 24-27 In the Beauty of the Shenandoah Valley Massanetta Springs Conference Center, Harrisonburg, VA Build Skills, Courage & Friends for Gun Violence Prevention for Such a Time as This Register & Learn More HERE Atwood News: 1. Sponsors Doubled our Scholarship Fund. Thanks to generous sponsors, if you need help, apply for a scholarships HERE. 2. We're having a Contest! Bring a Team! Biggest team wins. A team is 2 or more who will work together when they get home. Teams get scholarship priority and a surprise gift at the Institute. (Hint...Atlanta & El Salvador seem the ones to beat!) 3.View a short video from last year's participants HERE Atwood Institute Keynote Speaker Rev. Sharon Risher Read a Review of her book For Such A Time as This: Hope and Forgiveness after the Charleston Massacre HERE Register & Learn More HERE, including the Atwood Institute Schedule The Atwood Institute is a game-changing, ecumenical project of the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship to equip and encourage clergy and lay leaders for gun violence prevention ministry with congregations. Apply for scholarships HERE. Photo: 2024 Atwood Graduates The Atwood Institute honors the legacy of Rev. Jim Atwood, Christian prophet of gun violence prevention. You're Invited! Gun Violence & Christian Ethics with Dr. David Lincicum Professor of Christian Ethics, Notre Dame University Thurs. July 24 Noon ET Webinar Register HERE. Sponsored by the Presbyterian Office of Public Witness PC(U.S.A.) T-Shirts Guns to Gardens T-shirts and sweatshirts with the Guns to Gardens logo on the front and Isaiah 2:4 on the back. Order for your church volunteers for gun violence prevention events or as a gift. Order HERE Please Support PPF's Gun Violence Prevention Ministry We need support from churches, individuals and presbyteries to do this work. Gifts of all amounts are needed. Gifts are tax-deductible.  Give HERE or Mail checks to: "Presbyterian Peace Fellowship" att: Gun Violence Prevention 17 Cricketown Rd. Stony Point, NY 10980 Thank you. GIVE HERE! 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