A Church of the Brethren Gun Violence Prevention Action Team formed in 2023 to galvanize the Church of the Brethren to be faithful as an effective force for reducing gun violence in our neighborhoods and wherever it occurs.

Goals:

  1. Convene conversations across the denomination, to share our lived experiences with guns and gun violence, clarify our convictions as Christians and Brethren, and identify strategies for action.
  2. Build a network of CoB gun violence prevention advocates who provide mutual support, inspiration, and skill-sharing.
  3. Catalyze congregations to take collective action as Christians, witnessing to God’s shalom/God’s purpose for humanity.
  4. Activate agencies and institutions of the Church of the Brethren to bring their own resources and expertise to this effort 

SIGN UP HERE TO GET INVOLVED


GVP ORGANIZING MEETINGS

Each quarter, the COB GVP Action Team hosts an online organizing meeting designed for Church of the Brethren members and friends concerned about the escalating issue of gun violence in our country who either want to get involved or who are already involved in some way. We especially encourage all current and potential Congregational Ambassadors to attend these meetings.

Our next meeting will February 8 @ 1pm ET / 10am PTRSVP HERE to receive the Zoom link.


2025 CALENDAR

In 2025, the Action Team wants to provide your congregation and leadership with the ability to plan further ahead in deciding which events and initiatives you will be able to participate in. Thus, we are working toward a year-long calendar, as shown in the image above. Stay tuned for more!


T-SHIRTS

Order shirts and related merchandise here. 

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RESOURCES

Access our Gun Violence Prevention Toolkit for Congregations (worship and educational resources, slides from organizing meetings, and more)

LINK HERE

Consider becoming a Congregational Ambassador for Gun Violence Prevention - contact [email protected] 

Congregational Ambassador Role Description

A Congregational Ambassador feels the call to take action in Gun Violence Prevention. There are two primary roles:

- Attend quarterly meetings to learn, connect, and be inspired
- Bring ideas and actions back to your congregation that take public action on the issue of gun violence

The COB GVP Action Team and On Earth Peace will support you with regular email communication that will assist you in catalyzing your congregation. You will have opportunities to:

- Share monthly resources with your congregation.
- Organize and encourage participation in activities and actions share by the COB GVP AT and On Earth Peace
- Apply Kingian Nonviolence principles to your work


Why Brethren and Gun Violence Prevention?

The Annual Conference statement in 1978 on “Violence and the Use of Firearms” (link) is evidence that the issue of gun violence has long been a concern of the Church of the Brethren. Unfortunately, gun violence has become a more frequent occurrence in the United States with even more deadly consequences now than forty-five years ago. Whether it’s a mass shooting, homicide, suicide, or an accidental shooting, gun violence results in long-lasting trauma and grief. What does the Church of the Brethren have to say in response to all of this? What are specific actions that the Church of the Brethren can take toward the goal of ending gun violence and combating the glorification of guns in our culture? 

These questions motivate this national group of Brethren to engage the denomination in search of concerted action. The team longs to hear the denomination’s voice speaking clearly against gun violence, the too-easy access to guns, and the glorification of guns in our culture. They hope to activate local advocates and denominational voices to work towards ending gun violence. 

If you would like to get in contact with our team or efforts, contact Matt Guynn at [email protected] or Mandy Park at [email protected].

SIGN UP HERE TO GET INVOLVED