Interfaith leaders in St. Louis called on the government to pass the universal background check bill. This demand came in the wake of recent gun violence resulting in the loss of lives, including innocent children in Uvalde, Texas.
They gathered outside New Horizons United Methodist Church to demand senators pass the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2021.
Interfaith Leaders in St. Louis, Call for Action
With gun violence across the U.S., including the recent one that snatched the lives of children in Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, interfaith leaders expressed their call for action.
In the report of STL Post Dispatch, church leaders across the St. Louis region on Thursday held a press conference at New Horizons United Methodist Church.
They gathered to express their call for action for Missouri elected officials to support universal background checks and other gun control measures.
Rev. Ivan C. James, the Lead Pastor of New Horizons United Methodist Church, stated that such crime must end.
He was backed by more than 30 interfaith leaders outside the house of worship on Washington Boulevard, as he expressed that “enough is enough.”
Rev. James opened his remarks at 11:32 a.m. This is the exact time on Tuesday when the shooting began at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde. There were at least 19 students and two teachers killed.
The interfaith leaders expressed great sadness over the lives lost to the seemingly endless mass shootings in the U.S. in recent years. The group demanded change, appealing to Gov. Mike Parson, U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt, and U.S. Senator Josh Hawley to support stricter gun measures, including universal background checks.
Rev. Darryl Gray, the Senior Pastor of Greater Fairfax Missionary Baptist Church, stated that day that the church said they would come out from behind the pulpit. They will speak the truth to power and say to the governments that there must be gun control.
Furthermore, Rev. Gray called on Parson to hold a special session of the Missouri Legislature to adopt tighter gun controls. The Rev. also shared that interfaith leaders are praying.
They prayed their governor might hear them that day. May he be moved to call the Legislature into session to discuss gun control.
Other church leaders outside New Horizons United Methodist Church shared the same sentiments. They were united in expressing their call for change - stricter background check requirements for gun purchases.
The Lead Pastor of Manchester United Methodist Church, Rev. Andy Bryan, called for a disruption to the “script” that has followed mass shootings. He was talking about the outrage, thoughts, and prayers but no real change, “script.”
About New Horizons United Methodist Church
" Faith Above Fear."
According to its website, New Horizons United Methodist Church’s address is 4234 Washington Blvd., St. Louis. Services are on Sundays at 10:30 a.m.
Bible study is every Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. Ivan C. James III is the pastor of New Horizons United Methodist Church. This faith community was born from the merging of Asbury and Samaritan UMC.
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