The Aftermath of the Unthinkable
As we continue to live into the aftermath of last night’s shooting at the LA Fitness in Bridgeville, Pennsylvania, the connections between this tragedy and the United Methodist Church are becoming painfully clear.
One of the victims who died, Heidi Overmier, was an active member (with her 16-year-old son, Ian) at Bridgeville First United Methodist Church. (Heidi’s sister is a member of Irwin First United Methodist Church.) Another victim who died, Jody Billingsley, was a member of the Sugarcreek United Methodist Church, not far from Franklin, Pennsylvania. Two people who were present at the LA Fitness center during the attack are members of the Bridgeville Campus of Crossroads United Methodist Church.
All of the lives lost were precious. The fact that some of those lives were connected to that portion of the body of Christ called United Methodism simply gives to some of us a deeper sensitivity to the closeness of this tragedy.
This blog post is not a theological reflection, but a request for prayer.
Please be in prayer for Pastor Josephine Whitely-Fields and for the people of Bridgeville First Church as they cope with their loss and as they minister to Ian and the other members of Heidi’s family.
Be in prayer also for all of the churches in the South Hills (including Crossroad’s Bridgeville Campus and its pastor, Jonathan Fehl) as
they mobilize to be in ministry to a portion of western Pennsylvania that is experiencing both grief and shock.
I am currently in Nashville, Tennessee, attending a meeting of the United Methodist denomination’s General Board of Discipleship. While here, I have been deeply touched by the way in which my brothers and sisters in Christ on the General Board of Discipleship have allowed
their hearts to be broken by the shooting. We have been in prayer together for the situation and for the Western Pennsylvania Conference
throughout the day. It has been an inspiring reminder to me of the beauty and sanctity of my denomination’s connectionalism.
As I type these words, my prayer is that God will give to all of us strength, comfort, discernment, and courage as we continue to manifest a radical and Christ-centered peace in a world that is often terribly violent.
We are in prayer for all involved.
I and my church will be praying for all who are involved.