A collection of documents discussing sanctuary, safety, and inclusion for marginalized groups. It addresses shootings at black churches in Charleston and a Chinese Baptist church, as well as violence faced by LGBTQ people. It calls Christians to provide sanctuary for all people and create safe spaces for those who face hatred, discussing Jesus' example of inclusion. It concludes with a responsive benediction praying for comfort, healing, and standing in solidarity with communities affected by violence and hatred.

1. W H I T E S H O O T E R K I L L S N I N E M E M B E R S O F
M O T H E R E M A N U E L A . M . E . C H U R C H
1 7 J U N E 2 0 1 5 | C H A R L E S T O N , S O U T H C A R O L I N A

2. B L A C K C H U R C H E S = S A N C T U A RY
T H R O U G H O U T H U N D R E D S O F Y E A R S O F B E I N G V I C T I M S O F H A T E F U L R A C I S M I N A M E R I C A

3. A P L A C E O F R E F U G E O R S A F E T Y
S A N C T U A RY

4. F O R M E R M E M B E R S H O O T S A N D K I L L S PA S T O R A N D
H E A D D E A C O N D U R I N G W O R S H I P S E R V I C E
F I R S T C H I N E S E B A P T I S T C H U R C H , L A C H I N A T O W N | C I R C A 1 9 8 3

5. N O R E F U G E
N O S A F E P L A C E
Luke 9:57 As they were walking
along the road, a man said to
him, “I will follow you wherever
you go.”
58 Jesus replied, “Foxes have
dens and birds have nests, but
the Son of Man has no place to
lay his head.”

6. M O S T O F U S C A N ’ T I M A G I N E N E V E R
F E E L I N G S A F E O R N E V E R F E E L I N G
L O V E D , A C C E P T E D A N D N O R M A L

7. B U T F O R M O S T L G B T Q P E O P L E ,
T H I S I S T H E I R D A I LY R E A L I T Y

8. “ I ’ V E B E E N I N S U LT E D , R A P E D , B E AT U P, S TA B B E D , A N D
S H O T O V E R T H E Y E A R S J U S T B E C A U S E I ’ M G AY . ”
A C T O R R O D N E Y K A G E YA M A
“Gung Ho” 1986

9. F O R M A J O R I T Y O F
L G B T Q C H R I S T I A N S ,
C H U R C H E S A R E N O T
S A N C T U A R I E S
C O R I E S AVA RY | T H E O P E N D O O R

10. W H Y A R E W E
D O I N G T H I S ?
Matthew 25:37 “Then the righteous will
answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you
hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give
you something to drink? 38 When did we
see you a stranger and invite you in, or
needing clothes and clothe you? 39
When did we see you sick or in prison
and go to visit you?’
40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you,
whatever you did for one of the least of
these brothers and sisters of mine, you
did for me.’
FOR EVERY MEMBER
OF JESUS’ FAMILY
SANCTUARY

11. – D R . K U T T E R C A L L A WAY, F U L L E R T H E O L O G I C A L S E M I N A RY
“Rage, rail, wail, and mourn we must. But for those of us who follow
a crucified Christ, our cries in the face of tragedy, death, and
violence must underscore our prior commitment to a fierce and
unrelenting hospitality. Anyone can create space for those who are
welcome, for those who are invited guests, for those whom we know
to be peaceful. But Christian hospitality--the kind that always and
forever runs the real risk of our wide-open embrace of the world
being made permanent by nails driven through our hands--is only
ever Christian when it creates space for the unwelcome, the
uninvited, .... and the hostile.”

12. R E S P O N S I V E B E N E D I C T I O N
( S TA N D I N G )
[Leader]
We stand before You today, oh Lord
Hearts broken, eyes weeping, heads
spinning.
People made in Your image have
been killed.

13. R E S P O N S I V E B E N E D I C T I O N
( S TA N D I N G )
[Leader]
They gathered together, and then
they were no more.
The enemy turned on them in
violence
And now we are turning to You in
prayer.
[All]
We stand with every person,
family, and community in
Orlando.
We stand with every person,
family, and community in
Charleston.
We stand to bear their burden in
Jesus’ name.

14. R E S P O N S I V E B E N E D I C T I O N
( S TA N D I N G )
[Leader]
We cry out to You, oh Lord.
Our hearts breaking, eyes weeping,
heads spinning.
The violence in our streets continues
to break out from our dark hearts.
The hatred in our cities has crept into
our stubborn minds.

15. R E S P O N S I V E B E N E D I C T I O N
( S TA N D I N G )
[Leader]
The brokenness in our lives has
broken out into the lives of others
once again.
We also pray for our enemies and
those who join with the enemy to
steal, kill, and destroy.

16. R E S P O N S I V E B E N E D I C T I O N
( S TA N D I N G )
[Leader]
We pray we will not react and
respond with the prince of the power
of the air.
We pray we will move with the Prince
of peace and King of kings.
[All]
We stand with every person,
family, and community in
Orlando.
We stand with every person,
family, and community in
Charleston.
We stand to bear their burden in
Jesus’ name.

17. R E S P O N S I V E B E N E D I C T I O N
( S TA N D I N G )
[Leader]
We pray to You today, oh Lord.
Our hearts breaking, eyes weeping,
souls stirring.
We pray to the God of all Comfort to
comfort those in their mourning.
We pray that You would bestow on them
a crown of beauty instead of ashes.

18. R E S P O N S I V E B E N E D I C T I O N
( S TA N D I N G )
[Leader]
We pray that You would give them
the oil of joy instead of mourning.
We pray that You would give them a
garment of praise in place of a spirit
of despair.
[All]
We stand with every person,
family, and community in
Orlando.
We stand with every person,
family, and community in
Charleston.
We stand to bear their burden in
Jesus’ name.

19. R E S P O N S I V E B E N E D I C T I O N
( S TA N D I N G )
[Leader]
We declare together, oh Lord
With hearts breaking, eyes weeping and
souls stirring.
We will continue to stand and cry and weep
with these persons, families, and
communities.
We will continue to make a place of peace
for even the enemies.

20. R E S P O N S I V E B E N E D I C T I O N
( S TA N D I N G )
[All]
We declare our love for you, persons, families and communities in Orlando.
We declare our love for you, persons, families and communities in
Charleston.
We declare our love for you, persons, families and communities in Los
Angeles.
We declare our love through one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one
Church.
We declare you do not grieve alone today. We are with you.