Dear Friends,

Once again I come to you with profound sadness in the aftermath of an unspeakable act of gun violence in our nation. The deaths of at least 50 people in an attack on an Orlando nightclub that left more than 50 others injured, many seriously, is now the largest mass casualty shooting in United States history. This incident reminds us of the importance of strong resolve in opposition to terror and violence in all its many and varied forms.

I ask you to pray for the recovery of those who are currently receiving medical treatment for their injuries, as well as for the family and friends of those whose lives have been taken in this horrific event. I also invite you to pray for police, paramedics and other first responders who risked their lives to save the lives of others.

I also call upon all members of the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas to join me in solidarity with members of the Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender community, which were the targets of this attack at a gay nightclub. LGBT people are often marginalized in our society, and this is a savage reminder that we have so much work to do to make our country one of “liberty and justice for all.”

We will know more about the circumstances surrounding this horrific attack in the coming days. It appears that the intent was to terrorize innocent people. Our enemies consistently underestimate our resilience and our resolve in remaining advocates for equality and justice.

In the meantime, I ask people of faith to affirm the call of our Lord Jesus Christ who proclaimed, “Blessed are the peacemakers.”

I will celebrate a Requiem Eucharist at Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church in Mission, Kansas, on Monday, June 13, at 7 p.m. Everyone is invited to attend. (Clergy are invited to vest and wear white stoles.)

In these sad days I hope you will strive to find places where you can plant seeds of peace. We must take faith-filled action whenever and wherever we can.

+Dean

The Right Reverend Dean E. Wolfe, D.D.
Ninth Bishop, The Episcopal Diocese of Kansas