Tacoma religious leaders share pain, prayer

Muslim, Jewish and Christian religious leaders prayed, expressed grief, and offered the hope of faith in Tacoma on Monday night in response to recent police shootings in Pierce County and the earthquake in Haiti.

The nine leaders sat shoulder to shoulder in the front pews for the interfaith service at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, united by tragedy.

Several made reference to the fatal shootings of four Lakewood police officers and a Pierce County sheriff’s deputy.

“Deep down inside we ask ourselves, ‘If they’re not safe, how on earth can we be safe?’” asked the Rev. Chris Morton, executive director of Associated Ministries.

The Rev. Sharon Moe named each of the slain officers in a responsive prayer and asked, “Hear our prayers of anguish, and our cries of despair.”

Moe, Tacoma district superintendent with the United Methodist Church, prayed for all police “as each day they face the sobering reality of their own safety and security as they seek to ensure our communities’ safety and security.”

Leading the gathering of about 100 people, she also prayed for the victims of the Haiti earthquake.

“When the walls of the Presidential Palace, the National Assembly, and the Port-au-Prince Cathedral fell, they fell upon us, O God,” Moe said. “And so we grieve, we lament the destruction and the loss of life of our neighbors, your children.”

The crowd replied, “God, in your mercy, hear our prayer.”

Margaret Bailey, whose son is a Pierce County sheriff’s deputy, came to see the faiths join together and to pray for law enforcement and the people of Haiti.

“I think that prayer is the best thing,” said Bailey, of Tacoma.

Another St. Charles member, Marion Laurendaeu of University Place, said she prayed for Haiti and for peace for the slain officers’ families. She also came to see the practices of other faiths.

The service was in response to recent tragedies:

 • On Nov. 29, Lakewood police Sgt. Mark Renninger and officers Tina Griswold, Ronald Owens and Greg Richards were gunned down in a Parkland coffee shop as they prepared for their shifts.

 • Pierce County sheriff’s deputy Kent Mundell was shot Dec. 21 responding to a domestic violence call near Eatonville, and died a week later. Sgt. Nick Hausner was also shot and is recovering from his injuries.

 • In Haiti, more than 150,000 victims of the earthquake on Jan. 12 have been buried so far.

The interfaith nature of Monday night’s service was evident in readings.

Rabbi Bruce Kadden, of Temple Beth El in Tacoma, read a Psalm from the Hebrew Scriptures.

Imam Amir Abdul-Matin, president of the Islamic Education and Community Center in Tacoma, read from a chapter in the Quran that stressed recognizing that God is in control.

Morton read from the Bible’s New Testament.

Associated Ministries, a Christian ecumenical agency, sponsored the “community interfaith service for peace and wholeness” at St. Charles parish, 7112 S. 12th St.

The Tacoma-based agency has a membership of more than 200 congregations, religious groups and interfaith partners.

It has occasionally held interfaith services in response to tragedies. The agency also reclaims homicide sites in Pierce County through Moments of Blessing.

Determined that Monday’s night service won’t be a final chapter to tragedy, Morton said the agency will sponsor a series of meetings starting in March for people to talk about community issues such as safety and justice and to work toward solutions.

Steve Maynard: 253-597-8647 steve.maynard@thenewstribune.com