How should Christian leaders respond to gun violence?

Gun violence is sickeningly common, and Christian leaders often are called upon to respond when it happens. Here are resources from the Faith & Leadership archives to help in that difficult task.

Guns and violence
Responding to tragedy
Reconciliation
Forgiveness
Trauma

Image link to article: Kevin Sack: Ten years after the mass murder at Mother Emanuel, it’s more important than ever to resist the suppression of history

Kevin Sack: Ten years after the mass murder at Mother Emanuel, it’s more important than ever to resist the suppression of history

Image link to article: Are we losing our ability to lament gun violence?

Are we losing our ability to lament gun violence?

By Aleta Payne Senior editor, Faith & Leadership

Image link to article: Created in and bearing the image of God

Created in and bearing the image of God

By Kathy Khang Writer and speaker

Image link to article: Ministering in the midst of violence means being broken open but not apart

Ministering in the midst of violence means being broken open but not apart

By Sarah S. Howell-Miller Minister at Green Street United Methodist Church

Image link to article: Hurting and healing: What my church did after a mass shooting

Hurting and healing: What my church did after a mass shooting

By A. Trevor Sutton Pastor and writer

Image link to article: Sharon Risher: God is using me as a messenger for gun safety

Sharon Risher: God is using me as a messenger for gun safety

Image link to article: Lisa L. Thompson: Preaching and teaching about gun violence

Lisa L. Thompson: Preaching and teaching about gun violence

Image link to article: Michael McBride: Gun violence, race and the church

Michael McBride: Gun violence, race and the church

Image link to article: Mother Emanuel five years later

Mother Emanuel five years later

By Stephanie Hunt Journalist

Image link to article: Alaina Kleinbeck: Thoughts, prayers and condolences are not enough

Alaina Kleinbeck: Thoughts, prayers and condolences are not enough

By Alaina Kleinbeck Executive Director of Grants and Services, Forum for Congregational Life

Image link to article: Kylon Middleton: Moving the needle of racial justice is exhausting, vital, ongoing work

Kylon Middleton: Moving the needle of racial justice is exhausting, vital, ongoing work

By Kylon Middleton Senior pastor, Mt. Zion AME, Charleston, South Carolina

Image link to article: Kyle Childress: God, guns and guts

Kyle Childress: God, guns and guts

By Kyle Childress Retired pastor

Image link to article: William H. Lamar IV: Reject the myth of redemptive violence

William H. Lamar IV: Reject the myth of redemptive violence

Image link to article: Shane Claiborne and Michael Martin: From death to life, guns into garden tools

Shane Claiborne and Michael Martin: From death to life, guns into garden tools

Image link to article: B.R.A.V.E. Youth Leaders chart a strategy to combat violence and promote peace

B.R.A.V.E. Youth Leaders chart a strategy to combat violence and promote peace

By Jake J. Smith Journalist

Image link to article: Resources for leading amid tragedy and crisis

Resources for leading amid tragedy and crisis

Image link to article: Derek Kubilus: Transforming guns from objects of evil to tools of love

Derek Kubilus: Transforming guns from objects of evil to tools of love

By Derek Kubilus Vicar, Uniontown Methodist Church, Uniontown, Ohio

Image link to article: Alaina Kleinbeck: Hope takes hard work

Alaina Kleinbeck: Hope takes hard work

By Alaina Kleinbeck Executive Director of Grants and Services, Forum for Congregational Life

Image link to article: Alvin Edwards: To make an impact, the religious community must work together

Alvin Edwards: To make an impact, the religious community must work together

Image link to article: Transforming yesterday's tools of war into museum relics

Transforming yesterday's tools of war into museum relics

By Ed Moore Retired United Methodist elder

Image link to article: Alaina Kleinbeck: Go where there is violence and defy it

Alaina Kleinbeck: Go where there is violence and defy it

By Alaina Kleinbeck Executive Director of Grants and Services, Forum for Congregational Life

Image link to article: There is gospel to preach here: Christian leaders respond to the Orlando shooting

There is gospel to preach here: Christian leaders respond to the Orlando shooting

Image link to article: G. Lee Ramsey Jr.: Las Vegas and the violence in God's vineyard

G. Lee Ramsey Jr.: Las Vegas and the violence in God's vineyard

By G. Lee Ramsey Jr. Professor of Pastoral Theology and Homiletics, Memphis Theological Seminary

Image link to article: Laura Everett: What the living do

Laura Everett: What the living do

By Laura Everett Executive director, Massachusetts Council of Churches

Image link to article: How your church can be brave

How your church can be brave

By Elizabeth Hagan Pastor

Image link to article: Jeffrey Myers and Eric Manning: A healing friendship in the aftermath of gun violence

Jeffrey Myers and Eric Manning: A healing friendship in the aftermath of gun violence

By Stephanie Hunt Journalist

Image link to article: Bearing witness to the pain of violence

Bearing witness to the pain of violence

By Yonat Shimron Journalist

Image link to article: Marcia Owen: Affirming the dignity of our neighbors

Marcia Owen: Affirming the dignity of our neighbors

Image link to article: Interrupting violence

Interrupting violence

By Ritta M. Basu

Image link to article: Jennifer Berry Hawes: A reporter maps the journey to forgiveness in the wake of a church massacre

Jennifer Berry Hawes: A reporter maps the journey to forgiveness in the wake of a church massacre

By Stephanie Hunt Journalist

Image link to article: In a season of reckonings, forgiveness is not forgetting

In a season of reckonings, forgiveness is not forgetting

By Anthea Butler Chair of the Department of Religious Studies, University of Pennsylvania

Maggy Barankitse on forgiveness

In a short excerpt from a longer interview, the founder and president of Maison Shalom in Burundi explains the importance of forgiveness.

Image link to article: Christian forgiveness and the Boston Marathon bombing

Christian forgiveness and the Boston Marathon bombing

Image link to article: Alaina Kleinbeck: I need the hole-ridden Jesus in this hole-ridden world

Alaina Kleinbeck: I need the hole-ridden Jesus in this hole-ridden world

By Alaina Kleinbeck Executive Director of Grants and Services, Forum for Congregational Life

Image link to article: Is the cult of the gun America’s newest religion?

Is the cult of the gun America’s newest religion?

By Ed Moore Retired United Methodist elder

Image link to article: Who cares for the shepherds? The secondary trauma of faith leaders must be addressed

Who cares for the shepherds? The secondary trauma of faith leaders must be addressed

By Jessica Young Brown Licensed clinical psychologist

Image link to article: Non-profit helps kids manage trauma and learn coping skills for life

Non-profit helps kids manage trauma and learn coping skills for life

By Robert King Journalist

Image link to article: Growing beyond rage into hope and collective healing

Growing beyond rage into hope and collective healing

By Alaina Kleinbeck Executive Director of Grants and Services, Forum for Congregational Life

Image link to article: What Paul teaches us about coping with trauma

What Paul teaches us about coping with trauma

By Luis Cruz-Villalobos Author and clinical psychologist

Image link to article: A Texas congregation caring for immigrants gains a new understanding of Christianity as a 'trauma-healing movement'

A Texas congregation caring for immigrants gains a new understanding of Christianity as a 'trauma-healing movement'

By Patton Dodd Journalist

Image link to article: Luke A. Powery: Spirituals teach us about suffering before God

Luke A. Powery: Spirituals teach us about suffering before God

Image link to article: Gloria Beard: Childhood trauma, and the healing power of tea

Gloria Beard: Childhood trauma, and the healing power of tea

By Gloria Beard Writer