Praying with Our Feet Faith-Based Activism to Stop Shootings & Killings in Crown Heights, Brooklyn and Beyond
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Praying With Our Feet Faith-based Activism to Stop Shootings & Killings in Crown Heights, Brooklyn and Beyond A project of the Crown Heights Community Mediation Center & the Save Our Streets Clergy Action Network. Includes profiles of leaders & tools for faith based-activism against gun violence. PRAYING WITH OUR FEET / 1 Introduction Contents Dear Reader, This book profiles a few of the courageous and dedicated clergy leaders who work together to stop gun violence in the neighborhood of Crown Heights, Brooklyn, and beyond. Each is inspirational and visionary, dedicated to serving the community beyond the walls of his or her house of worship. These Introduction 3 leaders demonstrate their deep faith that collective efforts to “pray with their feet” can help rid our rAbout S.O.S. C.A.N. 4 neighborhoods of gun violence. Facts on Guns and Violence 5 The clergy interviewed in this book are a few of the active members of the Save Our Streets Clergy Profiles of Selected S.O.S. C.A.N. Members Action Network, (S.O.S. C.A.N.) the clergy mobilization arm of the anti-gun-violence program Save Reverend Kevin Jones, S.O.S. Clergy Liaison 6 Our Streets Crown Heights, (S.O.S.), a program that takes a public health approach to reducing gun Reverend Kenneth Bogan, Greater Restoration Baptist Church 12 violence. We view gun violence as a curable disease that has infected our neighborhood. To cure the disease, neighbors work together to create conditions where violence can no longer take hold, and Reverend Cheryl Anthony, Judah International Christian Center 16 houses of worship play a critical role in that effort. Rabbi Eli Cohen, Crown Heights Jewish Community Council 20 Bishop Willie Billips, Faith, Hope and Charity House of God 26 We invite you to join us in the movement to end gun violence, or deepen your house of worship’s involvement in making our neighborhoods safer and healthier. We hope that the tips and tools such as Reverend Carolyn Frasier, Greater Mt. Carmel Deliverance 30 the poems, prayers, and lesson plans for your youth groups or other affinity groups will be helpful in this Reverend Guillermo Martino, Tabernacle of God’s Glory 34 effort. We look forward to learning from you about how your House of Worship is working to end gun Reverend Jerry West, Mount Moriah Church of God in Christ 38 violence, and hope to profile your work in future editions of “Praying With Our Feet.” Reverend Gerald Seabrooks, Rehoboth Cathedral 42 In Peace, Reverend James Neville, Holy Temple of Prayer, Inc. 46 Reverend John David Wright, Grace Tabernacle Christian Center 50 Amy Ellenbogen, Reverend Gilford Monrose, Mt. Zion Church of God 7th Day 54 Crown Heights Community Mediation Center, Project Director Rabbi Andrew Bachman, Congregation Beth Elohim 58 Reverend Kevin Jones Reverend Stephanie Bethea, Glover Memorial Baptist Church 68 S.O.S. C.A.N. Clergy Liaison Things We Can Do to Strengthen the Neighborhood 66 Summer, 2013 Covenant of Peace and Action 67 Service Materials 68 Includes: Prayers, Poems, Scripture, Songs, Sermon Starters, Inspirational Quotes Lesson Plans on Gun Violence and Making Peace 72 Appreciations 75 Credits: Interviews conducted by Reverend Kevin Jones and Ariana Siegel Editing by Ariana Siegel Clergy portrait photographs by Kimberly Houston. Paintings by Jason Das Cover Photo by Andrew Hinderaker Book design by Laina Karavani 2 / PRAYING WITH OUR FEET PRAYING WITH OUR FEET / 3 About S.O.S. C.A.N. Facts on Guns & Violence About S.O.S. C.A.N. Facts on Guns & Violence Gun Violence in the U.S.A. From the National Association of School Psychologists MISSION STATEMENT PURPOSE MOTTO “Youth Gun Violence Factsheet” From the Brady Campaign To engage faith-based leaders in To strengthen our witness You CAN make a difference! y The majority of youth murdered are killed with a firearm and dialogue and action to end gun and work for peace in our y One in three people in the U.S. knows someone who has been shot. nearly half of youth suicide deaths involve the use of a gun. violence in our communities. communities by inspiring hope, y On average, 32 Americans are murdered with guns every day y Between 1981 and 2010, 112,375 infants, children, and teens raising voices, and taking action. and 140 are treated for a gun assault in an emergency room. were killed by firearms. This is 25,000 more deaths than the y Every day on average, 51 people kill themselves with a firearm, number of American soldiers killed in the wars in Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan, combined. S.O.S. C.A.N. will guide partnering faith-based leaders in exploring and celebrating together the spiritual grounding of our and 45 people are shot or killed in an accident with a gun. individual and collective peace work and witness. y The U.S. firearm homicide rate is 20 times higher than combined y Less than 1% of student homicides and suicides take place rates of 22 countries that are our peers in wealth and population. at school, on the way to or from school, or at a school Together we will explore the faith basis of our peace testimonies. sponsored event. In 80% of school-associated firearm-related Although guns can and have been used successfully in y homicides and suicides, the weapons used were obtained We will: self-defense in the home, a gun in the home is 22 times from the home or from a friend or relative. y raise up current peace work and witness more likely to be used to kill or injure in a domestic homicide, y examine how we might better support and engage each other in ongoing peace work suicide, or unintentional shooting than to be used in self-defense. y create new opportunities to witness together for more peaceful communities Gun Violence and Identity From U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice statistics S.O.S. C.A.N. is envisioned as a group of faith-based leaders who partner together to collaborate on projects and actions to y Most murders are intra-racial: From 1980 through 2008, 84% enlarge our peace concerns, producing positive outcomes. of white victims were killed by whites, and 93% of black Partnering faith-based leaders will return to their houses of worship with a deeper commitment to our Maker’s call to Impact of Gun Violence on Youth victims were killed by blacks. For homicides committed nonviolence and peace building, with renewed energy, prepared for powerful peace action and with more attentiveness From the Brady Campaign by a stranger to the victim, only 26.7% were interracial. For to the spirit that dwells within us all, calling all to restore our Maker’s communities for all God’s children. homicides committed by a friend or acquaintance of the victim, y Nearly one in four American teens have witnessed a shooting. only 9.7% were interracial. y An average of eight children and teens under the age of 20 y Males represented 77% of homicide victims and nearly 90% of INITIATIVES are killed by guns every day. offenders. Males were seven times more likely than females to y American children die by guns 11 times as often as children commit murder in 2008. The victimization rate for males was AIM: To bring community awareness, information, and focus to the issue of gun violence. in other high-income countries. three times higher than the rate for females. The offending rate To speak the S.O.S. message and show the community that WE CARE we will: for males was almost nine times higher than the rate for females. y Youth ages 0 to 19 in the most rural U.S. counties are as 1. Collaborate on shooting responses with the S.O.S. staff 6. Open our houses of worship for weekly recreational nights likely to die from a gunshot as those living in the most urban 2. Hold weekly mini-marches and support groups for victims of shootings and their families counties. Rural children die more often of gun suicides and From the Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence 3. Hold prayer vigils at hot spots 7. Provide emotional support for shooting victims and their families unintentional shooting deaths. Urban children die more often y Firearm homicide is the leading cause of death for African 4. Fast against violence 8. Do something with/for S.O.S. participants and families of gun homicides. Americans ages 1-44. 5. Spread the message to our houses of worship y Firearm homicide is the second-leading cause of death for y African-Americans make up nearly 13% of the U.S. population, AIM: To sit down and dialogue clergy leaders to action, we will: young people ages 1-19 in the U.S. (after motor vehicle crashes). but in 2009 suffered almost 24% of all firearm deaths and over 54% of all firearm homicides. 1. Meet quarterly by breakfast meetings, training sessions, seminars, or planning etc. y In 2007, more pre-school-aged children (85) were killed by 2. Discover what each of our leaders and houses of worship offer that can be used to guns than police officers were killed in the line of duty. y Homicides involving firearms have been the leading cause of facilitate healing and help a hurting community death for African-American males ages 15 to 19 since 1969. 3. Send weekly texts and emails AIM: To highlight faith-based leaders who are actively engaged in fostering peace in our community, References we will select a pastor of the month and: 1.