Church leaders express their sorrow following the shootings in south London over the past two weeks.
15 February 2007
Following the shootings in south London over the past two weeks, Christians are calling for all members of the community, black and white, young and old, and of any faith, to work together to stop the killings.
Christian leaders have expressed their sorrow at the deaths and sent their condolences to the families and friends of those killed.
Rev Katei Kirby, the Chief Executive Officer of the African and Caribbean Evangelical Alliance, said that although the recent shootings have happened in the black community, everyone must work together to tackle the problem. She said: “It is especially sad that the victims of these shootings are so young and our thoughts and prayers are with their families and friends. It is clear that more needs to be done to both protect our young people and prevent a rise in gun crime that seems to have its roots in a culture of fear and disrespect for another human life. We call on church leaders, and other community leaders, to do all they can to make sure these tragedies do not happen again.”
Dr R. David Muir, Public Policy Director of the Evangelical Alliance, and a former Deputy Chairman of the Metropolitan Police Authority, welcomed the announcement of more armed police in London. He said: “Churches already do an extensive amount of youth work, and are helping to combat gun crime through initiatives such as Street Pastors, Gunz Down, and Mothers Against Guns. The African and Caribbean Evangelical Alliance and the Evangelical Alliance UK, are calling on Churches to redouble their efforts to engage with and reach out to young people. The police should be commended for the work they are doing in investigating these recent crimes and offering reassurance to the community. But they can’t do it alone. It is critical that all communities co-operate with the police and that churches and the criminal justice agencies work together to devise effective preventative strategies to support vulnerable young people and families.”
Media Contact:
Bill Shaw
Evangelical Alliance
020 7207 2115
b.shaw@eauk.org
Notes to editors:
The Evangelical Alliance UK, formed in 1846, is an umbrella group representing over one million evangelical Christians in the UK and is made up of member churches, organisations and individuals. As part of a movement ‘uniting to change society’, the Alliance promotes unity and truth, acts as an evangelical voice to the state, society and the wider Church, and provides resources to help members and other evangelicals live out their faith in their communities. www.eauk.org
The African and Caribbean Evangelical Alliance (ACEA) was established in 1984 as a national umbrella organisation for Black Majority Churches and organisations in the UK.
Gunz Down is a multi-media show touring schools in London, Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester, Sheffield and Nottingham created to hammer home the importance of making good choices. The performance incorporates music, drama & film and is run by urban youth charity, XLP. XLP aims to serve urban communities by supporting young people in ethical, spiritual and relational areas so they can make wise lifestyle choices and be encouraged. www.gunzdown.com
