Vigil for Knoxville Church Set Tonight
By Kat Bergeron, The Sun Herald, Biloxi, Miss.
Jul. 30–A Mississippi Coast church that itself has recovered from a 1970s firebombing and the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina is holding a solidarity candlelight vigil tonight in support of the Knoxville church that lost two members last weekend.
Police believe the killer gunman targeted the church for its liberal social policies.
“We are inviting the Coast’s interfaith community to send a message of solidarity and support, that we will not give in to the message of hate but love and compassion,” said the Rev. Susan Karlson, consulting minister for Gulf Coast Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, which will host the 6 p.m. vigil at the tiny Gulfport church.
“Our world is full of suffering but love has the final say and that’s more important than this divisiveness and hate. We can join together to make this a better world.”
Karlson was brought to the Coast after a nationwide fundraising to bring a temporary minister to the small Coast congregation suffering from storm-related staff and membership losses.
The 54-year-old fellowship is in the Unitarian Universalist movement, formed in a 1960s merger of Unitarians, who believe in the unity of God, and Universalists, who believe in universal salvation, or that people don’t need the threat of Hell to do God’s will.
A stance on equality and progressive social justice has led them to embrace liberal positions apparently despised by the Sunday gunman.
Karlson is touched by the worldwide response and vigils, including one that brought many faiths to a Presbyterian church across the street from the targeted Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church.
“There is a higher purpose in us all coming together and realizing we are one community, even though we have different takes on religion,” Karlson said.
If you go What: Solidarity Candlelight Vigil in response to Sunday church shooting deaths in Tennessee.
When: 6 p.m. today
Where: 76 48th Street, Gulfport, in the Bayou View Shopping Center.
Details: 868-1233
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Copyright (c) 2008, The Sun Herald, Biloxi, Miss.
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