A226 Honoring St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church and the Victims of June 16, 2022
Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring,
That this 80th General Convention of The Episcopal Church hereby recognize and honor the faith and sacrifice of Walter (Bart) Rainey, Sarah (Sharon) Yeager, and Jane Pounds, whose witness demonstrated the call of God’s reconciling purposes by welcoming and eating with the stranger at a church potluck supper; and be it further
Resolved, That the Convention would pause in a moment of prayer and lament for those who died and for our sister parish of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Vestavia Hills, Alabama, of the Diocese of Alabama; and be it further
Resolved, That June 16th would be a day of remembrance and prayer; and be it further
Resolved, That we would renew our hope in God’s call to us to embrace the stranger, show kindness to the disheartened, and forgive those who have trespassed against us.
Explanation
On Thursday, June 16, 2022, at a potluck supper at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, Vestavia Hills, Alabama, three members of the congregation, Walter (Bart) Rainey, Sarah (Sharon) Yeager, and Jane Pounds, were shot and killed by an attendee of the supper who had recently transferred his membership to the church.
Though we may never know or understand the reasons behind this horrific tragedy, we do know that the light shines in the darkness and the darkness does not overcome it. (John 1:5)