Hutchinson, Kansas, United States of America

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

This past week, news of the tragic killing of Charlie Kirk has shaken many across our nation. Whenever violence erupts in such public and devastating ways, we are left grieving, confused, and tempted to retreat into anger or division. These moments wound not just families and communities, but also the soul of a nation.

As followers of Jesus, we must remember that our first response is not to point fingers but to turn to the Lord with humility. Jesus’ words in the Sermon on the Mount cut to the heart of this moment:

“You have heard that it was said… ‘You shall not murder.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment” (Matthew 5:21–22).

Violence does not begin with the weapon in a hand. It begins with the seed of anger, contempt, and division in the human heart. Before we rush to condemn others, we must prayerfully ask: Lord, where do the seeds of violence live in me?

In Joshua 5, when the commander of the Lord’s army appeared, Joshua asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?” The reply came: “Neither, but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come” (vv. 13–14).

In other words, God is not on the “side” of one tribe or another—He is calling us to His Kingdom. That Kingdom is not marked by vengeance, rivalry, or hatred, but by the peace of Christ.

This is a sobering time to repent and a sacred time to grieve. We grieve for a family torn apart, for children now without a father, for parents without their son, and for a society increasingly stained by violence.

We grieve that anger has become normal in our public life. But we also cling to hope: that God is making all things new, and that Christ, the Prince of Peace, is still among us.

So how do we live faithfully now? Let me suggest three small but kingdom-shaped responses:

1. Pray with honesty and humility. Lament before God. Ask Him to uproot violence from your own heart. Confess on behalf of our community and our nation.

2. Resist the temptation to join the chorus of blame. Do not add fuel to the fire of anger through social media, casual conversations, or tribal rhetoric. Choose words of blessing, not cursing.

3. Practice peacemaking in tangible ways. Speak kindly to neighbors. Send encouragement. Choose to be a presence of light where there is fear and despair.

I leave you with these prayers to guide us in this difficult season:

A Prayer for Peace
O Lord Jesus, Prince of Peace, stay the hand of violence in our land and in our lives. Keep angry words from our lips, violent thoughts from our minds, and vengeance from our hearts. Make us instruments of Your peace, that we may be called children of God. Amen.

A Prayer for Love
Father in heaven, who sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous, teach us to love not only our friends but also those we find difficult. Deliver us from contempt and make us people who bless instead of curse, who heal instead of harm. Amen.

Beloved, this is not the end of the story. Our hope is not in politics, power, or human strength. Our hope is in Jesus Christ, who died and rose again, and who even now is bringing His Kingdom to earth as it is in heaven.

May the God of all comfort surround us, and may He give us grace to be His people—without fear, overflowing with love, and steadfast in hope.

Faithfully,

Archbishop Quintin D. Moore

Presiding Bishop,
The Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches