Violence Prevention

The Episcopal Diocese of Missouri has been a leading voice advocating for sensible gun regulation and developing resources for the care of victims of violence in its many contexts. Elements critical to its ongoing ministry include:

• The appointment of a Bishop’s Deputy to coordinate gun violence prevention and intervention initiatives with organizations throughout the diocese and eastern Missouri (June 16, 2016);
  
  
• Partnership with Washington University School of Medicine’s Department of Psychiatry and the Walker Leadership Institute at Eden Seminary in the development and presentation of seminars to equip clergy and laity to care for the victims of gun violence;
  
  
• Partnership with Women’s Voices Raised for Social Justice to raise funds for the purchase and free-of-charge distribution of gun locks, especially in at-risk communities;

• Facilitation of the development of the St. Louis City and County Violence Prevention Commission through funding from the Episcopal Presbyterian Health Trust;

• Collaboration with the American Hospital Association in the promotion of its national violence awareness and prevention initiative, #HAVhope; and

• Development of a 6-module curriculum for use by faith communities to explore the many different forms of violence in American culture and the church’s responsibility for responding to them.