The National Black Church Initiative Expresses its Heartfelt Condolences for the Families of the 49 Who Lost Their Lives and the Countless Others Who Have Been Wounded
The 21st mindless tragedy in this country
Washington, DC – The National Black Church Initiative (NBCI), a faith-based coalition of 34,000 churches comprised of 15 denominations and 15.7 million African Americans, expresses its heartfelt condolences for the families of the 49 who lost their lives and the countless others who have been wounded. Radical Islamic extremists pose an intimate threat to the lives and the welfare of all not only in America but also around the world. The Christian Church rejects violence and we must find a humane way of stopping the carnage and starting the dialogue. This is a despicable act against humanity and especially our LGBTIQA+ brothers and sisters. Contrary to popular belief, we truly love our LGBTIQA+ brothers and will do whatever it takes to protect them.
This horrible act just doesn’t add up. And causes us to question our approach to making community. Chase Strangio, a staff attorney with the ACLU’s LGBT and AIDS Project, claimed the social and political environment cultivated by Christian conservatives in recent months was to blame for the shooting at Pulse, a nightclub popular with Orlando’s LGBT community. This could be no farther from the truth. The Christian Church stands for love and has exhibited love. This is why, as President of the National Black Church Initiative I am authorizing our 300 churches to reach out to out LGBTIQA+ community and conference them in the love of Christ. God is love and Christ exhibits his love for all of us on Calvary. This is the type of finger pointing that caused our communities to split and not see each other as humans. Mr. Strangio should be ashamed of himself for trying to divide our community at this time of emotional unity.
Rev. Anthony Evans, President of the National Black Church Initiative, “I am hurt and broken as a clergy and understand and feel the human pain that runs down the streets of Orlando at this moment. NBCI vows to do whatever it can to bring about some healing to these painful circumstances and we will not use our time to hate the shooter. We will show him the same amount of love that we show everyone. May God have mercy on his soul and may God have mercy on us.”
