Faith leaders recall gun violence, hoping to prevent future tragedy
'There is no safe house of worship in the U.S. anymore'
Victims of gun violence recounted horror in order to protect places of worship. During the Aug. 29 event at Jesus’ Dwelling Place Church in North Braddock, Rabbi Jeffrey Myers, the Rev. Brenda Gregg and Pastor Glen Germany recalled their experiences and implored fellow faith leaders to prepare accordingly.
“How tragic is it to me that the three of us should be sitting here,” Myers, the rabbi of Tree of Life Congregation, said to Pittsburgh clergy and members of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania.
“By all accounts, right, I shouldn’t be here. I should be dead,” Myers said.
The rabbi, one of three panelists at the Protecting Places of Worship—United Against Hate Forum, detailed his experience on Oct. 27, 2018, and said his death would be certain “if not for Pittsburgh’s finest.”
Myers praised the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police and said, “Four of God’s angels came to rescue me.”
When Pittsburgh police “ran into the bullets” on Oct. 27, their behavior starkly contrasted with some moments in history, he continued. “On Nov. 9, 1938, in Nazi Germany the German government authorized the burning of synagogues.”
Myers implored local clergy to heed his experience.
“Any church leader who thinks their house of worship is safe, you are a fool,” he said. “There is no safe house of worship in the U.S. anymore.”
Myers attributed the lack of safety to the prevalence of guns.
There are 333.3 million people living in the United States, but the number of firearms is even greater, Bloomberg reported.
Wrapping one’s head around the number of guns in the U.S. is challenging; so too is managing the effects of those firearms, Myers said.
“Half of my time is spent dealing with the continued aftermath of Oct. 27,” he said. “How do I restore faith to people after a gunman stole it from them?” Myers asked. “I can’t order it on Amazon.”
Gregg said her congregation, Destiny of Faith Church in Brighton Heights, followed the events of Oct. 27, 2018, and recognized the threats presented.
“It became clear to our congregation that we need a plan for our church on the North Side,” she said.
Church members undertook active shooter training because of the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting, she said. Still, during an Oct. 28, 2022, funeral for a victim of gun violence, Destiny of Faith became the site of an active shooting.
During the funeral, two people began shooting, Gregg recalled: “We didn’t know whether the shooting was inside or outside.”
Six individuals were injured due to gunfire.
“Thank God we didn’t lose any of them,” Gregg said. “Had it not been for that training, I don’t know what would have happened.”
The reverend told colleagues on Aug. 29 that they and their congregations must have a “close and trusting relationship with law enforcement.”
Germany recalled the events of May 5, 2024, when a gunman entered Jesus’ Dwelling Place in North Braddock and attempted to murder him. He recounted that he was speaking from the front of the church when the gunman approached, the firearm jammed and a deacon tackled the potential killer.
Reading “the signs of the times” is easier than predicting the weather, Germany said.
The current state of affairs is a matter of “sowing and reaping,” he continued. “We as a nation, if we continue to sow what we’re sowing then what do you think is going to happen?”
Germany said the gunman told him his actions were because of “voices” in his head.
The pastor implored attendees to not only recognize mental illness, but to work with authorities and develop appropriate protection.
“If you don’t take this seriously, then like the rabbi said, ‘You’re a fool,’” Germany said.
Throughout the program, clergy, elected officials and attorneys addressed various aspects of gun violence, hate crimes and protection.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Soo Song cited the U.S. Code and explained what constitutes a hate crime.
“These laws matter and can make a difference in the justice we bring,” she said.
North Braddock Mayor Cletus Lee thanked the more than 100 attendees for recognizing the need to “have more security — not only for our community but [also] the churches in our community.”
“I’m glad that you all came here so we can try to work together and put some things together for our community,” he added.
State Rep. Abigail Salisbury (D-34) praised attendees of the interfaith gathering for working together, but said it’s critical to remember what matters most.
“Focus on the work that’s being done here today,” she said. Remember that “terrible” and “dramatic” events will capture more attention than the “everyday work that people do, just grinding it out afternoon by afternoon.”
Volunteering with area youth, or working to ensure a “community nonprofit is funded,” will likely never receive the “clicks or views or eyeballs on screens,” Salisbury continued. “But I would argue it’s much more important — that everyday work that people do in our communities to make people come together, to make people feel safe.” PJC
Adam Reinherz can be reached at areinherz@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.
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