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A march that moves

Copyright the Episcopal Diocese of Newark

It is difficult to describe the emotions of this morning, on top of all that has transpired in this joyous week. I, along with the entire deputation from Newark, participated in the Claiming Common Ground Against Gun Violence procession. Our bishop, the Rt. Rev. Mark Beckwith, was one of the key leaders of this event, working as part of Bishops United Against Gun Violence, and it was one of the most meaningful moments of this General Convention (and that is saying something, to be sure).

Today, following the leadership of over 100 bishops across our Episcopal Church, we brought the church outside into the world to proclaim the message of God's love, and to call on all people to work toward peace in our streets and in our hearts.

The march began with a rally by the Salt Palace Convention Center, where we heard the story of the host bishop, the Rt. Rev. Scott Hayashi. Bishop Hayashi spoke about being shot in the stomach at point blank range, and how the ordeal in the hospital nearly killed his father. He left the hospital after 2 months, weighing a mere 98 pounds, but with a powerful witness. We responded loudly whenever a call from one of the bishops came of "God did not make death" with "God does not delight in the death of the living." (Wisdom 1:13) We then began to walk to Pioneer Park, with our bishops leading us as we sang a prayer imploring God to heal our hearts. The chant had a haunting melody as you could hear it rise from the long line of the march - different parts singing in a spontaneous round these words "Out of the depths I call, unto thee O Lord. Consider well the sound of my hurting soul."

The procession through the streets was powerful, as were the words of former police officer, the Rev. Gayle Fischer-Stewart, once we got to the park; who, despite her past occupation, does not, and will not, carry a gun. But, it was what we heard when we arrived back at the original rally site for the final part of the march that left an indelible mark on all present.

After a bishop, also a former police officer, spoke to the crowd, gunshot victim Carolyn Tuft came to the microphone. Carolyn described the day in 2007 when she and her daughter Kirsten were shopping for Valentine's Day cards at the Trolley Square Mall here in Salt Lake City. A gunman came in to the mall shooting everyone he encountered, including her and her daughter, whose last words to her mother were "Mom, get down!" As she lay bleeding, Carolyn crawled over to her daughter, who was laying in a pool of blood. The gunman, who had left the card store where they were to reload, unfortunately returned only a few seconds later. He walked over to Carolyn, fired once point blank range into her back; and then, as she lay there watching, he put the gun to her daughter's head... and pulled the trigger. Not a word could be heard from the crowd.

As I stood in the heat of the sun, listening to Carolyn, tears flowed down my face. I kept wiping them away, but there was no stopping the ache in my heart for Carolyn, and for all who are victims of this senseless violence that has infested our country and the world. There was a palpable wave of intense emotion coursing through everyone there as we listened to her story. The pain was felt in our hearts. The pain of her experience, and that of all victims of gun violence, were deeply felt in our souls; and, silently we seemed to be calling once again "out of the depths" to our God for healing. Carolyn had this additional point to make to anyone who would listen: If you believe that having a gun will save your life - you are dead wrong. There was, in her words, "no time." It was over in an instant.

We have work to do folks. As our Presiding Bishop-elect, the Rt. Rev. Michael Curry, said so passionately this morning, the unholy trinity of violence, racism (and I would add sexism), and poverty stands no chance against the power of our Holy Trinity of God the Creator, the Redeemer, and the Sustainer. I agree, and it is up to each one of us to bring this love - this all abiding and inclusive love of God - into our neighborhoods. We need to walk as Christ walked, making it clear that we will not rest until the scourge of hate and violence is overcome by the power of love, reconcilation, and peace. There is no darkness that the light of Christ cannot overcome, and we are Christ in the world now. "God does not delight in the death of the living." Let's get moving!

Full Disclosure: There is something about me that is important to know... I was in my teenage years a member of a rifle team (Distinguished Expert rank with .22s), have received police pistol training, and was a member of the NRA (as all who are on shooting teams must be). My family has had hunting grounds in West Virginia for decades. I do not, nor have I in several decades, possess a gun.

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