The Presbyterian News Service has posted a story about the call for the church to respond to recent instances of bullying: "a national disaster".
The story notes that:
On Oct. 18, in the wake of the large number of gay teens taking their own lives and anti-gay violence, Elder Cynthia Bolbach, moderator of the 219th General Assembly, and the Rev. Grady Parsons, stated clerk, joined other national faith leaders in signing a Clergy Against Bullying statement. The statement called for “the Church Universal to join us in working to end the violence and hatred against our lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender brothers and sisters.”
The story identifies several other ways that Presbyterians are working to end bullying.
It closes with a statement from Michael Adee of More Light Presbyterians:
“They are doing what they have been taught,” said Adee. “In that sense, they are victims as well. Until young people are taught to be accepting of all people, no matter how different they may be, there will always be bullying. It is going to take teaching Christ’s message of universal love before bullying of any nature will end.”
May that day arrive soon.