RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) – Congregations continued to gather across denominational lines on June 19 in the wake of the attack on the historic Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina. Hundreds of people from all walks of life filled the pews at Third Street Bethel AME church as leaders prayed for peace.
Reverend Reuben J. Boyd. Jr. took the pulpit at the vigil, saying, “Those 9 brothers and sisters died by following the greatest commandment of all: To love.”
Reverend Eboni Brickhouse of St. Peter’s Catholic led a prayer for healing, followed by reflections from Father Robert Brownell of St. Peter’s Catholic Church in downtown Richmond.
A prayer for unity was led by Reverend Kathryn Lester-Bacon of 2nd Presbyterian Church in downtown Richmond.
“You’ve just got to keep coming back and opening the door and shaking the hand, and sitting there at night and praying even when prayer doesn’t seem like enough, said Reverend Melanie Mullen from the pulpit. “We will keep walking and talking until we are in the land of peace. And I pray the spirit will lead us to a place where this never happens again.”
Deacons lit candles in memory of the six women and three men killed on June 17th. The congregation then joined hands to sing the anthem, ‘We Shall Overcome.’
Bessie Battle, a member at Third Street Bethel AME Church, said the events in Charleston have been difficult to process. “It has been very painful. Reading the paper and watching the news sometimes I have to stop; I just get so overwhelmed.”
Pastor Leroy Bray Jr. of Christ Center Church in Richmond said he will consider raising security at his own church in light of the attack. “We’ve been very lax at our church in terms of security but I think we’re going to have to become more vigilant and put more things in place,” he said.
On Saturday, June 20, the Richmond Police Department will host a “Places of Worship Safety Forum.” The Department will host the next safety and awareness forum for religious gathering places. The forum will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. A variety of topics will be discussed, including general safety, preparing for an emergency and staffing for special events that will draw large crowds.
