{"id":17548,"date":"2018-03-27T08:00:23","date_gmt":"2018-03-27T15:00:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/?p=17548"},"modified":"2018-03-27T09:15:06","modified_gmt":"2018-03-27T16:15:06","slug":"pnw-united-methodists-follow-students-lead-in-gun-control-marches","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/pnw-united-methodists-follow-students-lead-in-gun-control-marches\/","title":{"rendered":"PNW United Methodists follow students lead in gun control marches"},"content":{"rendered":"<h4><strong>Text by Patrick Scriven | Media by Rev. David Valera, Patrick Scriven and Teri Tobey<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>United Methodists in the Pacific Northwest were out in numbers on Saturday, March 24<sup>th<\/sup> to participate in various <a href=\"https:\/\/marchforourlives.com\">March For Our Lives<\/a> rallies across the region. These siblings events to a march in Washington D.C., which drew several hundred thousand participants, were held to put pressure on politicians to enact common sense gun control measures and address other precipitating causes of gun violence. Like the march in D.C. which was organized by high school students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas in Parkland, Florida, students provided key leadership roles.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"March  for Our Lives (Seattle) - Part One - Organizing\" src=\"https:\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/261719634?dnt=1&amp;app_id=122963\" width=\"696\" height=\"392\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture; clipboard-write\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Rev. David Valera, Executive Director of Connectional Ministries for the Pacific Northwest Conference, spent Saturday in Seattle following the sibling March for Our Lives that happened there. <a href=\"https:\/\/vimeo.com\/261719634\">Valera spoke with Emilia Allard<\/a>, a senior at Ballard High School in Seattle, who got things started with an Instagram post a little over a month ago. Tens of thousands participated in Seattle\u2019s march which started at Cal Anderson Park. Youth voices there were complemented by politicians including Governor Jay Inslee, U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell and state Attorney General Bob Ferguson, as well as the talents of musicians like Dave Matthews and Brandi Carlile.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"March for Our Lives (Seattle) - Part Two - Marching\" src=\"https:\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/261786193?dnt=1&amp;app_id=122963\" width=\"696\" height=\"392\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture; clipboard-write\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>A number of United Methodist Churches encouraged members to participate in Saturday\u2019s march. Given Seattle\u2019s less than ideal congestion, several churches from the suburbs, and neighboring cities, organized carpools for youth and adults to attend together. Rev. Joe Kim, pastor of Bothell United Methodist Church <a href=\"https:\/\/vimeo.com\/261786193\">described participation as an expression of faith<\/a> \u201cto stand for justice with our children and youth.\u201d The church\u2019s youth leader, Ben Linder, said that it was fitting that this was also Palm Sunday weekend noting that they are standing with those looking for \u201csensible gun reform\u201d and also with those \u201cwho have lost their lives due to gun violence.\u201d\u00a0Greg McLaughlin, youth director at <a href=\"http:\/\/edmondsumc.org\">Edmonds United Methodist Church<\/a> who brought members down on their bus, noted that adults can help young people to know that &#8220;they matter and have power.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"March for Our Lives (Seattle) - Part Three - Epilogue\" src=\"https:\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/261968676?dnt=1&amp;app_id=122963\" width=\"696\" height=\"392\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture; clipboard-write\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Tacoma\u2019s <a href=\"http:\/\/masonchurch.org\">Mason United Methodist Church<\/a> played host on Friday evening to students who were making signs and planning the last details of the next day\u2019s march. When lay member Megan Kilpatrick noticed a few weeks ago that the group was looking for meeting space she suggested that they check with the church. Rev. Karen Yokota Love was eager to open the doors to the group noting that it was one of the most important things the church has hosted in her eight months as pastor there. In addition to basic hospitality, members of the church have gone further to provide snacks and pizza for the young organizers.<\/p>\n<p>During the meeting, it was announced that the group had received a grant for $5,000 to help to pay for some of the costs of the rally. The students had organized themselves into different committees, each responsible for planning an aspect of the march. Lydia, in charge of finance, had helped the group to fundraise over $1,500. One fundraiser discussed was done in partnership with Joeseppi&#8217;s Italian Ristorante where students bused tables for an evening and were able to keep 10% of the proceeds. The restaurant\u2019s owner, Joe Stortini, is a member of Fircrest United Methodist Church.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_17554\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-17554\" style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/mason-nate.jpg\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-17554\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/mason-nate.jpg?resize=696%2C463\" alt=\"\" width=\"696\" height=\"463\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/mason-nate.jpg?w=1200&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/mason-nate.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/mason-nate.jpg?resize=768%2C511&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/mason-nate.jpg?resize=1024%2C682&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/mason-nate.jpg?resize=696%2C463&amp;ssl=1 696w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/mason-nate.jpg?resize=1068%2C711&amp;ssl=1 1068w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/mason-nate.jpg?resize=631%2C420&amp;ssl=1 631w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-17554\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Initial organizer for the Tacoma march, Nate Minor (second from right) poses for a quick picture with (from left)\u00a0Karlene Rytkonen, political organizer for Derek Kilmer, Rev. Cathy Law, Rev. Karen Yokota Love and\u00a0State Representative Laurie Jinkins (D) 27th legislative district.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Nate Minor, a seventh grader in Tacoma, was the initial organizer of Tacoma\u2019s successful and intentionally accessible march at People\u2019s Park. \u201cI want to see something change,\u201d said Minor of why he started things,\u201cand I noticed that it doesn\u2019t unless somebody does something.\u201d Planning grew to include participants from all of Tacoma\u2019s public schools with two other student leaders, Anna Nguyen and Claire Weckl, representing high school and college students respectively. Nate\u2019s mother, Louisa Erickson, shared that this Nate and other students have spent many of their evenings dedicated to the event, after homework.<\/p>\n<p>Among those making their signs on Friday evening were Olivia and Ella Bartholomew, youth members of Mason UMC. Olivia shared that a recent phone threat at her school was very scary. She was participating because she didn\u2019t want to lose a friend or her sister to gun violence. \u201cI want them to be safe,&#8221; offered Olivia. Her sister Ella agreed adding, &#8220;I want to make a difference. With all of our young voices coming together, we can prevent a school shooting.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_17550\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-17550\" style=\"width: 1201px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/tacoma-march-olivia-emma-TT.jpg\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-17550 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/tacoma-march-olivia-emma-TT.jpg?resize=696%2C462\" alt=\"\" width=\"696\" height=\"462\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/tacoma-march-olivia-emma-TT.jpg?w=1201&amp;ssl=1 1201w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/tacoma-march-olivia-emma-TT.jpg?resize=300%2C199&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/tacoma-march-olivia-emma-TT.jpg?resize=768%2C510&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/tacoma-march-olivia-emma-TT.jpg?resize=1024%2C680&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/tacoma-march-olivia-emma-TT.jpg?resize=696%2C462&amp;ssl=1 696w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/tacoma-march-olivia-emma-TT.jpg?resize=1068%2C710&amp;ssl=1 1068w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/tacoma-march-olivia-emma-TT.jpg?resize=632%2C420&amp;ssl=1 632w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-17550\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Emma and Olivia B. participating at the March For Our Lives in Tacoma, Washington. Photo by Teri Tobey.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Asked about their church\u2019s involvement, both girls were happy that the meetings were hosted there. &#8220;It is comforting, said Olivia. \u201cI feel safe at church and this makes me feel even safer.&#8221; Ella struck a different note sharing, &#8220;I feel good that more people will know about this church. We don\u2019t have a lot of younger kids at church and I like that they know we are in the community.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_17555\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-17555\" style=\"width: 1201px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Derek-Kilmer.jpg\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-17555 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Derek-Kilmer.jpg?resize=696%2C464\" alt=\"\" width=\"696\" height=\"464\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Derek-Kilmer.jpg?w=1201&amp;ssl=1 1201w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Derek-Kilmer.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Derek-Kilmer.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Derek-Kilmer.jpg?resize=1024%2C682&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Derek-Kilmer.jpg?resize=696%2C464&amp;ssl=1 696w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Derek-Kilmer.jpg?resize=1068%2C711&amp;ssl=1 1068w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Derek-Kilmer.jpg?resize=631%2C420&amp;ssl=1 631w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-17555\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Derek Kilmer, U.S. Congressman of Washington&#8217;s 6th District, and lay member of Gig Harbor United Methodist Church, was a speaker at the March For Our Lives in Tacoma.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>On Saturday in Olympia, around 4,500 people gathered for a march with started at on the steps of the state Capitol. No politicians spoke at the event but students offered speeches that displayed a depth of knowledge and social awareness the generation isn\u2019t often given credit for.<\/p>\n<p>Clergy and laypersons from a number of Capitol Circuit churches were present in support of the march. Chris Knight, the administrator at Olympia First United Methodist Church commented on the march saying, \u201cI think it\u2019s important that the church takes stands. We have to make a difference in the community.\u201d He added that he was impressed, but not surprised, to see \u201cchurch members just showing up by themselves.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Joy and Charis Brown brought their parents the Revs. Curtis and Meredith Brown to the march. Asked why it was important to them to participate, both sisters shared that the prospect of a school shooting terrified them. Joy described a recent situation where her school was put on lock down after someone left a threatening note in a bathroom which read \u201cI have a gun.\u201d Charis shared how the all of the \u201cbig guns\u201d made them feel powerless but they needed to do something, saying \u201cthat\u2019s why we\u2019re marching.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_17553\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-17553\" style=\"width: 1198px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Joy-charis-Olympia.jpg\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-17553 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Joy-charis-Olympia.jpg?resize=696%2C464\" alt=\"\" width=\"696\" height=\"464\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Joy-charis-Olympia.jpg?w=1198&amp;ssl=1 1198w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Joy-charis-Olympia.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Joy-charis-Olympia.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Joy-charis-Olympia.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Joy-charis-Olympia.jpg?resize=696%2C464&amp;ssl=1 696w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Joy-charis-Olympia.jpg?resize=1068%2C712&amp;ssl=1 1068w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Joy-charis-Olympia.jpg?resize=630%2C420&amp;ssl=1 630w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-17553\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Joy and Charis Brown brought their pastor parents with them to the march in Olympia, Washington. Photo by Patrick Scriven.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>For Joy and Charis, where the Church should stand on the matter is a no-brainer. \u201cThe Church is a social organization,\u201d said Joy, \u201cit should help people.\u201d To her, Jesus is saying, \u201cWhy would you think this is okay?\u201d Charis offered similar thoughts. \u201cGod is not the biggest fan of violence or of watching people die \u2026 This matters.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Like internet memes, the signs found at marches and protests can range from crude to clever with some accomplishing both simultaneously. Still, popular signs can serve as crib notes for those who are seeking to understand the zeitgeist of the day. \u201cPrayer is not enough!\u201d words which graced more than a few signs, might feel like an attack at first glance. This critique can be understandably disconcerting to church members who are more sincere than the politicians who have used these words devoid of any discernable action.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_17552\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-17552\" style=\"width: 1201px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Prayer-Olympia.jpg\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-17552\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Prayer-Olympia.jpg?resize=696%2C463\" alt=\"\" width=\"696\" height=\"463\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Prayer-Olympia.jpg?w=1201&amp;ssl=1 1201w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Prayer-Olympia.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Prayer-Olympia.jpg?resize=768%2C511&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Prayer-Olympia.jpg?resize=1024%2C681&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Prayer-Olympia.jpg?resize=696%2C463&amp;ssl=1 696w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Prayer-Olympia.jpg?resize=1068%2C711&amp;ssl=1 1068w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Prayer-Olympia.jpg?resize=631%2C420&amp;ssl=1 631w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-17552\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A sign capturing a sentiment the author of James&#8217; epistle might have appreciated was among several at the march in Olympia questioning &#8220;thoughts and prayers&#8221; absent action. Photo by Patrick Scriven.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Another sign which said, \u201cWhat if these kids are the answer to our thoughts and prayers?\u201d offered a different path which many Pacific Northwestern United Methodists seemed eager to take. Engagement, listening, supporting and taking action alongside are all things in our Wesleyan DNA.<\/p>\n<p>While there may indeed be differences of opinion in regards to solutions, many Methodists in the Pacific Northwest appear to be united in taking notes from, and adding their support to, these marching young people who desire safer schools and communities free from weapons of war.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><em><strong>Rev. David Valera<\/strong> serves as Executive Director of Connectional Ministries for the Pacific Northwest Conference. <strong>Teri Tobey<\/strong> is the Program Associate for Young People&#8217;s Ministries. <strong>Patrick Scriven<\/strong> serves as\u00a0Director of Communications &amp; Young People\u2019s Ministries.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>United Methodists across the PNW Conference participated in March For Our Lives rallies last weekend. We take a look at some of the different ways they have been listening, supporting and taking action alongside the young leaders of this movement.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":17557,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[15,32,112],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-17548","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-justice","8":"category-news","9":"category-ministries-with-young-people"},"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/olympia-speaker.jpg?fit=1399%2C922&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2l75j-4z2","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17548","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17548"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17548\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17566,"href":"https:\/\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17548\/revisions\/17566"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/17557"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17548"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17548"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17548"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}