On January 6, 2021 as Congress was in the midst of certifying the results of the Electoral College, the U.S. Capitol was by rioters who vandalized the building. The attack resulted in the death of 5 persons, including 2 police officers. United Methodist leaders, including bishops, pastors and general agency leaders have released statements condemning the violence and calling for the peaceful, democratic transition of power in the lead up to President-Elect Biden’s inauguration on January 20. Here is sample of the statements. Send additional statements for possible inclusion to ResourceUMC@umcom.org.
The Council of Bishops
- "A Call to Action for The United Methodist Church in Times of Challenge" (January 15, 2021)
Bishops – Northeastern Jurisdiction
- Bishop LaTrelle Easterling, “Bishop Easterling's Statement on Jan. 6 Violence” Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference (January 6, 2021)
- Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar, “Prayer Vigil for our Nation” New England Annual Conference (January 6, 2021)
- Bishop Peggy A. Johnson, “Light in the Darkness: An Epiphany Call to Prayer for Our Nation” Eastern Pennsylvania and Peninsula-Delaware Annual Conferences (January 6, 2021)
- Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball, “Words of Hope from Bishop Sandra” West Virginia Annual Conference (January 6, 2021)
- Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi, “Bishop's Statement on Insurrection” Western Pennsylvania Annual Conference (January 7, 2021)
Bishops – North Central Jurisdiction
- Bishop Lauri Haller, “A Statement from Bishop Laurie Haller and the Iowa Annual Conference Appointive Cabinet” Iowa and Dakotas Conferences (January 6, 2021)
- Bishop David Alan Bard, “Bishop's statement on the violence in Washington, D.C.” Minnesota Annual Conference (January 6, 2021)
- Bishop Frank J. Beard, “Bishop issues statement on DC rioting” Illinois Great Rivers Annual Conference (January 6, 2021)
- Bishop Hee-Soo Jung, "No to Violence" Wisconsin Annual Conference (January 6, 2021)
Bishops – South Central Jurisdiction
- Bishop Gary E. Mueller, “The Morning After” Arkansas Annual Conference (January 7, 2021)
- Bishop Mike Lowry “A Statement on the Storming of the U.S. Capitol” Central Texas Annual Conference (January 6, 2021)
- Bishop Robert Farr “Statement By Bishop Robert Farr On Insurrection At The Capitol” Missouri Annual Conference (January 7, 2021)
- Bishop Jimmy Nunn “In Response to January 6, 2021” Oklahoma and Oklahoma Indian Missionary Annual Conferences (January 7, 2021)
Bishops – Southeastern Jurisdiction
- Bishop Ken Carter, “A Statement from the Florida Conference Cabinet on the Attack at the Capitol on January 6” Florida Annual Conference (January 11, 2021)
- Bishop James E. Swanson Sr., “Invitation to Prayer” Mississippi Annual Conference (January 6, 2021)
- Bishop Hope Morgan Ward “From the Bishop: An Epiphany Prayer for the United States” North Carolina Annual Conference (January 6, 2021)
- Bishop L. Jonathan Holston, “U.S. Capitol violence cannot define who we are” South Carolina Annual Conference (January 6, 2021)
- Bishop Lawson Bryan “A message from Bishop Bryan: Remember your baptism” South Georgia Annual Conference (January 6, 2021)
- Bishop Sharma D. Lewis “Pray for Our Nation and One Another” Virginia Annual Conference (January 7, 2021)
- Bishop Paul L. Leeland “From Bishop Leeland: Preparing for Worship in a Time of Crisis” Western North Carolina Annual Conference (January 8, 2021)
Bishops – Western Jurisdiction
- Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño “Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño calls us to prayer in this dark hour” California-Nevada Annual Conference (January 6, 2021)
- Bishop Grant J. Hagiya “Bishop Hagiya’s Statement on Washington D.C. Chaos” California-Pacific Annual Conference (January 6, 2021)
- Bishop Robert T. Hoshibata “The Bishop’s E-Lumination 1-6-2021” Desert Southwest Annual Conference (January 6, 2021)
Caucuses
- MARCHA, national Hispanic/Latino caucus for The United Methodist Church “MARCHA denounces acts of insurrection at Capitol” (January 11, 2021)
General Agencies
- Dr. Ashley Boggan Dreff, general secretary, General Commission on Archives and History “History is NOW!” (January 2021)
- Rev. Susan Henry-Crowe, general secretary, General Board of Church and Society “Church and Society Calls for a Peaceful Transition of Power” (January 6, 2021)
- Rev. Junius B. Dotson, general secretary, Discipleship Ministries “Repairing the Breach” (January 2021)
- United Methodist Women “United Methodist Women Condemns Attacks on U.S. Capitol in D.C.” (January 7, 2021)
Ecumenical/Interfaith
- National Council of Churches “Responding to the Attack on the U.S. Capitol” (January 8, 2021)
- World Council of Churches “WCC expresses solidarity with US churches as they raise prophetic voices in the midst of this new and acute crisis” (January 11, 2021)