Responding to the tragic events of early today, Bruce Birchard helped to convene a meeting of the heads of the American Friends Service Committee, Friends General Conference, Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, and Friends World Committee for Consultation.

We agreed to do two things immediately: 1) issue a public statement, and 2) call a Public Meeting for Worship for Thursday evening, September 13th, 7:30 PM, at the Fourth and Arch Street Meetinghouse in Philadelphia.

As organizations of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) and as members of the human family and children of God, we are profoundly grieved at the loss of life, the suffering, and the sorrow that result from today's tragic events. The God of love and mercy whom we worship and serve surely grieves too in the face of these acts of anger and hatred and the suffering they cause. We pray earnestly for comfort and strength for those who are injured and grieving. So too we hope with all our hearts that, in responding to today's tragic events, all persons will find ways to end the violence that is consuming our world.

We offer our gratitude and prayer to those who are responding to this tragedy, rescuing and caring for those who are injured, comforting those who are grieving, and working for peace and reconciliation.

The Religious Society of Friends, since its inception in the 1650's has been led to eschew war and violence for any end whatsoever. Time and again we have ministered to the victims of war and violence. We believe that the challenge before us all is to break the cycle of violence and retribution.

Seeking God's love and light at this time, we will be holding a public Meeting for Worship at Arch Street Meetinghouse, 4th and Arch Streets, in Philadelphia, PA, on Thursday, September 13th, at 7:30 p.m. All are welcome.

In God's Love,

Bruce Birchard, General Secretary
Friends General Conference

Cilde Grover, Executive Secretary
Friends World Committee on Consultation

Thomas Jeavons, General Secretary
Philadelphia Yearly Meeting

Retha McCutchen, General Secretary
Friends United Meeting

Mary Ellen McNish, General Secretary
American Friends Service Committee

Joe Volk, Executive Secretary
Friends Committee on National Legislation