The following pastoral letter was issued in response to the tragic shootings on the campus of Virginia Polytechnic Institute.

April 18, 2007

We are deeply saddened and grieved by the tragedy at Virginia Polytechnic Institute in Blacksburg on Monday, April 16th.  We express our deepest sympathy and condolences to the victims and their families as they mourn and grieve the loss of their loved ones.  We join together in praying for those killed and wounded, their families, the community at Virginia Tech and all those affected by this deadly rampage.

In light of such tragedy on a college campus, we are genuinely troubled by the widespread violence in our society and how such violence can devastate our community.  We firmly renounce violence in any situation for any reason.  Rather, we remember the unconditional love of our Lord Jesus Christ who, even at the moment of his own death on the cross, offered forgiveness and sacrificed his own life to reconcile us to God. 

We believe that the Church is a faith community with a mission of sharing the good news of peace to the world.  However, through this unfortunate incident, we recognize that we, as a church, have been negligent on the issue of violence and overlooked those who may feel alienated in our community.  We confess that we fell short of comforting those crying out in pain and serving the spiritual needs of those who are lost.  This incident reminds us of how critical it is for the Church and each of us, as a part of the body of Christ, to be vehicles of peace and love.

We pray that the violence that has needlessly taken innocent lives does not escalate nor happen again.  Furthermore, we are especially concerned that the immigrant community and the children of minorities may become targeted by anti-racial backlash because of this incident.  We pray that all of our friends and neighbors will support the Korean American community in striving for healing, reconciliation, and peace.

1. Please pray for the victims and their families.
2. Please pray for our society reeling in shock.
3. Please pray for the students and staff of Virginia Polytechnic Institute.
4. Please pray for the family and friends of Cho Seung-Hui.
5. Please pray for the minority and the immigrant community in the U.S.
6. Please pray for the United Methodist Church to be able to fulfill its mission as vehicles of peace and reconciliation.

Rev. Hoon Kyoung Lee, Chair
National Association of Korean American United Methodist Churches

	See Also... Topic: Christian love |  International affairs |  United Methodist Church |  Geographic Region: Korea |  North Eastern U.S. |  United States |  Source: GBGM Administration
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Date posted: Apr 19, 2007