Gun violence forum Thursday to focus on how faith community can help
BY BILL SHERMAN World Religion Writer
Saturday, January 12, 2013
1/12/13 at 4:34 AM
The shooting deaths of four women in an apartment near 61st Street and Peoria Avenue on Monday adds gravitas to a previously scheduled forum on gun violence.
The public discussion will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at College Hill Presbyterian Church, 712 S. Columbia Ave.
Participating will be representatives from the Tulsa Police Department, the Tulsa County District Attorney's Office, Phillips Theological Seminary and various clergy.
"Given the experience we have seen over the last year, we believe we need to have a conversation about how the faith community might help Tulsa deal with gun violence," said the Rev. Ray Hickman, executive director Tulsa Metropolitan Ministry, which is sponsoring the event.
"This is not about gun control but about the violence," he said. TMM does not have a position on gun control.
"We believe people of faith want to see a healthier place to live and want to respond to their neighbors in love, promoting a loving response to conflict," Hickman said.
The conversation likely will center on mental-health issues and systems, gun control, gangs, the desensitization of American culture to blood and gore, and the challenges of maintaining civil rights, he said.
The one-hour meeting will begin with a round-table discussion by the participants, followed by 20 minutes of open microphone for public comment.
Discussion on gun violence
When: 2 p.m. Thursday
Where: College Hill Presbyterian Church, 712 S. Columbia Ave.
Original Print Headline: Gun violence forum to discuss how faith community can help
Bill Sherman 918-581-8398
bill.sherman@tulsaworld.com
