Serve, Work and Transform: Gun Violence Prevention Oct. News for Congregations

Presbyterian Peace Fellowship

Gun Violence Prevention News

for Congregations

Oct. 2025

Welcome, New Readers!

Photo: Many participants at the recent Atwood Institute for Congregational Courage rested for a photo following a role-play of a Guns to Gardens Safe Disposal event, led by RAWtools South. PPF's Margery Rossi played the role of a gun owner, driving her car into the mock parking lot in the Virginia woods. Seated far right, Rev. CeCe Armstrong, Co-Moderator of the PC(USA) 226th General Assembly, joined as a reminder of the commitment of the larger church to preventing gun violence. It was a spirited and invigorating Institute with amazing participants and leaders. Photo: Dezi Primous-Gillon

Thank you to sponsors, donors and all who came and all who helped.

Photos below: Atwood Institute Guns to Gardens training and keynote speaker Rev. Sharon Risher. See more Atwood Institute 2025 photos at facebook.com/presbypeace

Find a news story with comments from Atwood Graduate Dr. Katie Day on the Sept. 29 shooting at the Latter-day Saints Church in Grand Blanc, Michigan HERE.

Guns to Gardens

Fall Action Circles

Oct. 16-Nov. 20

Take direct action to reduce the number of unwanted guns to be found by children, youth, or others; used in a crisis; resold or stolen to be returned to the gun market.

Learn on Zoom with other congregations how to plan and offer a Guns to Gardens Safe Disposal Event for unwanted guns in your community.

Every Thursday for six weeks for one hour per week, plus one hour of preparation. Learn more HERE.

Photos: On Oct. 4, Stillwater, Minnesota Guns to Gardens safely dismantled 38 firearms at First Presbyterian Church. Participant Joni Burns received her Guns to Gardens Firearm Safety Officer Certifcation training in VA following the Atwood Instiute.

A Suggestion: Participate in the Fall Action Circle and learn how to offer a "Blessing of the Chop Saw" service in early Dec. to coincide with Advent Peace Sunday, Dec. 7, or the Sandy Hook school shooting memorial Dec. 14. Then have your first safe disposal event in the winter or spring. A Blessing of the Chop Saw service is easy to do; it builds community and reaches potential allies and supporters in advance of your main event.

2 New Resources

Gun Violence & Christian Ethics

A new educational video series featuring a range of Biblical and theological leaders reflecting on such topics as violence in the Bible, gun ownership for Christians, and the search for safety. A new option for adult small group study

in your congregation.

Find the 4-session series HERE.

Find the series trailer HERE.

Find a brochure and download instructions HERE.

Created by the Presbyterian Church (USA) Office of Public Witness.

In Guns We Trust --The Unholy Trinity of White Evangelicals, Politics, and Firearms

by William Kole

In this unsettling investigation into white evangelicals' fusion of the gospel and guns, veteran journalist William J. Kole exposes how some Christians are standing in the way of reasonable restrictions on firearms--and how it makes us all less safe.

Details at Broadleaf Books HERE.

Chapter 9 - Swords Into Plowshares is based largely on conversations the author had with participants at the PPF Atwood Insitute in 2024.

Find a "Matter of Faith" podcast conversation about the book with the author Wm. Kole HERE.

Help Wanted!

PPF seeks new volunteers for:

Protecting Children from Gun Violence Team -- meets on Zoom to engage congregations in finding and taking action to prevent deaths, injuries and spiritual harm to children from gun violence. Good fit for teachers/retired teachers, parents, grandparents, public health personnel, church educators, gun safety advocates and others.
Gun Violence Prevention Working Group -- PPF's ecumenical team to plan and implement its Gun Violence Prevention Ministry, including the Atwood Institute, Guns to Gardens, the Congregational Toolkit, Enews, Emergency Response and more. Meets monthly on Zoom with follow up as needed. A good fit for congregational leaders, youth leaders, media/public relations volunteers, legal volunteers, worship/music leaders, policy wonks, and those who feel isolated in their context and want to be part of a gun violence prevention faith-based activist community.

To volunteer, please contact Rev. Margery Rossi, PPF Minister for Gun Violence Prevention HERE.