Wounded Knoxville church rededicates

The Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church, where church usher Greg McKendry and visitor Linda Kraeger were shot to death and six others were wounded by a gunman July 27, held its first post-shooting worship service yesterday, and about 800 people attended (most had to watch on closed-circuit TV -- the sanctuary seats 375). The Knoxville News Sentinel has full coverage of the rededication service, as well as the shooting and its aftermath.

The Rev. William G. Sinkford, the president of the Boston-based Unitarian Universalist Association, offered the following message to the congregation:

"You are gathered today on what is truly sacred ground. No one should ever be in harm’s way inside a place of worship. What happened in this room a week ago was a profound violation of everything a house of worship is supposed to represent. There could have been a number of responses to this tragedy – you could have responded with fear, with anger, or with despair. You could have returned the hatred that was directed at your community. But instead you greeted hatred with love, and you created meaning from an unthinkably destructive act. You have chosen to reclaim this space, a choice that reflects your deep commitment to your religious mission and an abiding belief in the power of community. The unbreakable spirit of the Knoxville Unitarian Universalist community has inspired the awe and respect of the entire world, and deservedly so. Because last week this sanctuary witnessed acts that were courageous, generous, and deeply compassionate. It is true that the crime was shockingly profane, but your responses were, and continue to be, deeply reverent. No murderer can take away what is sacred about this place, because your love has overpowered fear, just as your faith is helping you heal and move forward, together. It is the presence of gathered community that makes a place holy, and today the world is moved by your example. Your gift of courage is a blessing to us all."

Many local UU congregations held services to reflect on the Knoxville shooting. From the Unitarian Universalist Church of Marblehead, the Rev. Wendy von Zirpolo sent along some of her comments. An excerpt:

"This is not the first time violence or hatred has touched the Unitarian Universalist community. In the early 50s the Knoxville congregation became the first integrated church in the community and was openly accused of communism and ousted from their rental space in a school. Others were firebombed during the civil rights movement and UU minister James Reeb lost his life in Selma. More locally we’ve had rainbow flags torn, leaflets strewn and just last Tuesday evening an individual offered an obscene gesture to our Peace vigilers. I’m always saddened and perplexed when theological or political disagreements are expressed with such venom. I’m beyond sad when violence enters the equation. How could anyone kill people for believing that all people have worth?..How could one plan to kill dozens of peaceful worshippers in front of their children? These are the questions we’re left with, along with a host of others about inadequate funding for mental health programs, gun control, accountability in the world of political pundits, follow-through in domestic abuse cases and so much more."