ReconcilingWorks thanks the Rev. Robert Schaefer, Bishop, Florida-Bahamas Synod for his pastoral words of comfort following the mass shooting in Orlando, Florida.
“I drove back to Venice from Daytona Beach about two hours ago following the end of our 2016 Synod Assembly under the theme, ‘Let Justice Roll Down Like Waters’ (Amos 5:24). I have no doubt tonight that God’s tears are rolling down following our nation’s worst mass shooting in its history. In his sermon at the closing Eucharist this morning, Pastor William Flippin, Jr. reminded us that as Christians we DO NOT have the right to remain silent. He is right. Let’s be honest: Church, its time to be clear about honoring and standing up for the basic human rights of the LGBTQ community and reasonable gun control in this country. Come on, who needs to have an automatic weapon? My youngest daughter has connections with one of those who died and another who was wounded. Let the church be clear: Every human being shares in the image of God and therefore shares the same dignity without regard to racial or ethnic distinction, family status, age, economic status, gender, sexual orientation, or differing abilities. Period. This senseless violence must end. Join me in praying for the victims of this atrocity, their families, the family of the shooter, and that justice may at last roll down like waters.”
–Bishop Robert Schaefer