October 5, 2025
Dear Friends,
Once again, we are horrified by a mass shooting that has taken place in a worship space – a space that is supposed to be a sanctuary for all. A sacred place of safety, community and God. Perhaps the horror is magnified as it occurred ‘just down the road’ from us. Perhaps your mind has wondered “Who is next?” “Will it be us?” “How can we prevent it from happening here?”
Several years ago, I went through security training for houses of worship. Some places, particularly synagogues, have gone the route of hiring armed guards. I’m not comfortable with that and since we have a “No Weapons” policy, that won’t work. There are some other steps we might take to minimize our vulnerability, and this will be a discussion for the next Vestry meeting.
My question has always been, how do we remain an open and welcoming church if we are locking our doors once we are all inside? Remember the recent shooting in Minneapolis at the Annunciation Catholic Church – the doors were locked from the inside – the shooter chose instead to shoot through the stained-glass windows. If we were to lock the entrance doors, what does that say to the rest of the world about what we believe? I know our trained ushers are quite vigilant about unfamiliar folks who join us for worship on Sunday mornings. They offer hospitality to all strangers and keep a watchful eye on all of us. Primarily in case of a medical emergency.
Our Bishop has released a statement regarding the recent shooting, and I encourage all of you to read it. In it she offers some resources for us to consider – again the Vestry will be reviewing these at our next meeting.
If you have specific concerns you wish to share, please find me or one of our Wardens (Dave Parks & Larry Clark) for a chat. Unfortunately, we live in a time when violence occurs too often, and kindness and compassion are in short supply. Instead, we tend to hunker down and limit our interactions with those in the outside world, thinking this will be safer. Shootings are now happening far too often – it can seem there is no place safe as they have occurred in grocery stores, schools, casinos, churches, outdoor rallies, office buildings, sports events, etc.
It is important for us to consider how best to be safe – not only in church, but in our daily lives. So, let us say prayers for all the victims of violence and especially for those who fall victim to shootings. Let us pray for calmness and wisdom in seeking to be God’s holy people welcoming to all who wish to enter our doors. Let us pray for an increase in kindness to our neighbors and those who have no safe place to rest their heads.
Blessings,
Karen+
Here is our Bishop’s message below:
| October 1, 2025 Dear Friends, In the wake of the recent shooting at a church in Grand Blanc, many of us feel grief, fear, and deep unease. It is natural to wonder whether the places where we pray and gather are safe. As your bishop, I want first to honor those feelings and remind you that we bring them before the God who is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. We are also a people of hope and purpose. Our calling as the Episcopal Church is to remain open, welcoming, and courageous, even while taking wise steps to prepare for possible emergencies. Preparedness is not about giving in to fear; it is about creating the conditions for calm, faithful action when something unexpected happens. Many are asking whether communities of faith should be locking their doors during worship? Part of our witness is that our doors are open to all. We do not want our churches to feel like fortresses; they are houses of prayer for every person. At the same time, love of neighbor includes readiness to act swiftly should danger appear. That means thinking in advance about how people enter and exit, training greeters and ushers to notice when something feels wrong, and knowing how to respond. Our goal is not to shut people out but to keep everyone safe while maintaining the radical hospitality of the Gospel. The attached Emergency Response Plan was developed by faithful lay and clergy leaders to help congregations prepare for and respond to medical emergencies, severe weather, and acts of violence. Reviewing and practicing this plan will give you and your leaders the confidence to act decisively and compassionately if an emergency arises. I encourage each congregation to: Form or review an Emergency Response Team with clear roles. Walk your building: know how to direct people to safety and where help and equipment are located, including the AED. Coordinate with local police and fire, share basic floor plans, and invite them for a walkthrough. Train ushers, greeters, and other leaders in observation and de-escalation. (The Power of Hello) Practice, even briefly, how you would respond to an unexpected threat. Please know this work is not about living in fear but about living our faith with courage and care. As we pray for those who mourn in Grand Blanc, we also commit to stewarding the safety of the people and places entrusted to us. May the peace of Christ guard your hearts and minds and make you steadfast in hope. Faithfully, |
| The Rt. Rev. Dr. Bonnie A. Perry 11th Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan |