We stand with Orlando

The brutal massacre, in Orlando, of 49 people, and the injuring of many more has caused widespread horror and grief to LGBT people and many others around the world. Any such attack would do so, but this has been doubly shocking because people were targeted purely because of their sexuality. This outrage has been compounded by anti-gay protests at some of the funerals.

For far too long, religion in general, and elements within Christianity in particular, have explicitly or implicitly encouraged the sorts of attitudes which fed the attack in Orlando and many other attacks on LGBT people.However, silence and a failure to challenge homophobia is also complicit.

Therefore, we at St Columba’s by the Castle declare without reservation that:

• we stand with the victims of Orlando – the killed, injured, bereaved and traumatised – and with all other LGBT people who face hostility, persecution and violence around the world.
• we repent of teaching, behaviour and attitudes, including silence, which have allowed hatred and bigotry to flourish in the church or in a society influenced by it.
• as a community of LGBT and Straight Christians we share with countless others in the shock and grief that these events have caused.
• we offer our prayers and love for all affected by this outrage, including those in our church and wider community who feel this to be an attack on themselves.
• we commit ourselves afresh to fearlessly declaring, in word and deed, the gospel of Christ which affirms the absolute dignity and worth of every single human being, irrespective of sexuality or any other human distinction.