By Deacon Tina Campbell
Resolved: that the Executive Council commit ourselves, and call upon all members of the Church, to strengthen efforts to abolish the death penalty, and at the same time find the sensitive capacity to stand with the friends and families of murder victims as they struggle to redeem this tragedy in their lives….(General Convention, 2000).
One of the opportunities during my sabbatical – and in retirement – was the opportunity to “clear my plate” of some activities, and take up others for which there is now more energy and time. One of these activities is pottery. I enjoyed pottery in college and took classes over the years. In retirement, I have enrolled in a weekly pottery class and was happily able to contribute a bowl to the River City Community Services “Empty Bowls” event.
Another interest to which I have returned is the issue of the Death Penalty. The Sacramento Area Coalition Against the Death Penalty, and the local Death Penalty Focus Group, continues this faithful witness on the steps of the State Capitol. On the third Monday of the month, from noon until 1:00 pm.
I have volunteered to provide flyers for the noon hour vigil on Monday, June 15. My hope is that members of Trinity Cathedral will join me and parishioners from St. James (RC) Church, Davis, in a one hour witness. If you are interested, please contact me at tcampbell@trinitycathedral.org.
Faith and community groups, such as The Newman Center, The Lutheran Office for Public Policy and Murder Victims Families for Reconciliation, lead a vigil, distributing flyers explaining their group’s anti-death penalty stance. When my schedule permits, I join these groups in their witness. I wear my clerical collar to call attention to the official stance of the Episcopal Church, which opposes the Death Penalty.
Increasing numbers of cases in which DNA has been used to exonerate Death Row prisoners, and the current financial climate that makes the high cost of executions less acceptable, has had the effect of re-opening public discussion.
1 response so far ↓
Richard Russell // July 2, 2009 at 8:33 pm |
On 7/16 from 6-8:30 PM at the Sierra II Center, the Wellstone Club is sponsoring a movie on loan from Death Penalty Focus, “The Empty Chair”, and a speaker, Nancy Oliviera, to spark public outreach on this issue. I will be manning a Justice Reform Coalition table at this event. Hope to see you there.