GVPanorama - Ohio Faith Leaders Go Beyond the Pulpit to Fight Gun Violence
Mobilizing through ministry
While on the search for recent gun violence prevention news for our weekly "Friday Finds” feature, we often come across editorials, personal stories, or wider-lens articles that don’t necessarily fit into a “current events” window. With “GVPanorama” we will highlight some of these thought-provoking pieces.
This piece comes from The Ohio Newsroom, “a formal collaboration of Ohio’s existing network of public radio newsrooms that creates a sustainable model offering news coverage, including stories that may not have otherwise been told.”
Starting with the story of the Reverend Arthur Butler and the Lima Area Black Ministerial Alliance, the article describes the role that a number of different churches throughout the state have taken on as peacemakers and caretakers in the aftermath of gun violence. And further, how activism for social change has historically often come from the Black church in particular.
“Firearm-related deaths in Ohio rose around 30% from 2013 to 2023, according to preliminary data from the Ohio Department of Health. And churches are getting involved: pastors are putting gun violence prevention at the center of their sermons and going beyond the pulpit to address the deaths.”
Check out the full article and an audio version here.
Related: Lima panel talks gangs, gun violence at forum