McHenry County group advocating nonviolence forms

Submitted by Clergy and Laity for Non-Violence

At a meeting on Aug. 23, seven local ministers met to form Clergy and Laity For Non-Violence. This group is open to any clergy or lay members of congregations and religious groups McHenry County and is committed to the principle of nonviolence whether it is in opposition to gun homicide, domestic violence, bullying in school, or any other form of violence.

The group had its origins last winter when members of the Social Justice Committee of the Tree of Life Unitarian Universalist Congregation decided to reach out to local religious communities in response to school shootings and other violence.

The Rev. Dan Larsen, minister emeritus of the congregation, was selected to spearhead that effort.

After months of exchanging letters and individual consultations, it was decided to broaden the focus of the new group from gun violence to all of violence and the culture of violence that inflict our communities and nation.

“The group represents individuals from churches and religious groups but not the institutions themselves,” Larsen stated. “We still speak from a religious point of view based on the principles that we all of have in common. … Our broad purpose is to provide a religion-based voice here in the county on behalf of nonviolence and to act on our beliefs together based on our individual consciences.”

Clergy and Laity for Non-Violence will meet again at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 25, at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 3706 St. Paul St. in McHenry. Other religious leaders and lay persons are invited to join the conversation on how best to proceed to make a contribution to a more peaceful community.

For information, contact Larsen at dplarsen1073@att.net or call (815) 338-2234.