VISION STATEMENT
(to what we aspire)
The Interfaith Violence Prevention Coalition seeks to unleash the peacemaking power of our local faith communities to reduce violence where we live, learn, work, play and pray. The Coalition strives to be a model that other communities can replicate.
MISSION STATEMENT
(that guides our work)
The mission of the Interfaith Violence Prevention Coalition is to educate, engage, and empower people of diverse cultures and religions to take direct actions that address the root causes and societal challenges of the violent acts plaguing our communities.
OUR WORK
(guided by Vision and Mission)
- Educate our local faith communities about gun violence in our community, state, and nation.
- Encourage our local faith communities to engage in gun violence prevention efforts. “Do not stand idly by while your neighbor’s blood is shed.” Leviticus 19:16
- Support faith-based programs that address the root causes of gun violence in our community, focusing on our most vulnerable youth.
- Advocate for evidence based common sense gun legislation to protect lives and improve our public health.
- Invite legislators to dialogue with Coalition members.
- Partner with local law enforcement, businesses, and other agencies to conduct a Gun Buyback and Safety Initiative.
- Sponsor the Inter-religious Workshop “Ministering for a Less Violent Society.”
- Create community and/or school mediation programs to prevent violence.
- Form subcommittee to plan a countywide Mediation Program.
- Become an Ally to a local faith-based youth mentoring program.
- Provide appropriate program support and resources.
- Pray together in interfaith and congregation-based settings throughout our journey.
OUR COMMON GROUND -- Building common bonds in the Interfaith Community to form collective political will.
Let us confirm our common beliefs as reason for our collective political will against gun violence.
Can we agree that:
- Our Scriptures proclaim God's word and will.
- There is but One God who is Sovereign over all.
- God is creator of all.
- This makes everything and everyone sacred.
- God created human beings in God's image and likeness.
- Our purpose is therefore to reflect our Creator God.
- God hears the cry of the poor and marginalized.
- God is loving, forgiving, and merciful.
- God is Love and Peace.
- Life is sacred, sin is forgivable, and mercy is demanded.
Each of our faiths sponsor: Peace over violence and love over hatred, bigotry and prejudice.
With this as our common theological ground:
We stand against gun violence as it goes against our faith in the Creator's purpose and intent.
It threatens God's sacred life.
