Turn to Prayer and Peacebuilding
It has been difficult today to process news reports of the devastating assassination of Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, and the critical shooting of Sen. John Hoffman and his wife. Our hearts break for the Hortman and Hoffman families, their colleagues, and constituents, and for our entire state.
Our horror at the violence that targeted these public servants and their spouses forced us to grapple with the question: is this what our world has become? The motive for these attacks is not yet known and speculation only has the potential to add harm. And while many will want to cast blame, we know that is never helpful. Blame can intensify feelings of anger, guilt, and polarization, which can only feed negativity and division..
Instead, we encourage Minnesotans across faith traditions, to individually and collectively turn our hearts toward prayer and the pursuit of peace. These practices are crucial for communal healing and resilience. Prayer and peacebuilding are interwoven; the power of prayer to bring comfort and hope, and the importance of peacebuilding to promote unity and dialogue in the face of adversity.
Similarly, we encourage that in the days and weeks to come we lean into and promote the nonviolent tenets of civil discourse in society. Civil discourse requires that we honor and respect the dignity of all parties, that we listen actively and humbly to what they are saying, that we put ourselves in their shoes, and that we work together to make our world a better place. Through civil discourse, our focus is not on winning arguments but on moving away from dehumanizing hatred; On moving toward understanding and peace – even when we disagree. We choose to prioritize the person – the precious soul – over whatever we disagree about.
And so, as we pause now to reflect and pray, we know that the Bible offers those who mourn a promise of comfort. Matthew 5:4 says, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted." We pray that comfort will envelop the Hortman and Hoffman families in their grief and that they will feel the deep love and gratitude being expressed for their loved ones across our state and nation.
Elder Suzanne P. Kelly
CEO, Minnesota Council of Churches