(Issued from the Unitarian Universalist Association: July 28 - 10:15 PM)

In the wake of the tragic shootings on July 27, 2008 which resulted in two deaths and injuries to six others, Unitarian Universalists are rallying to offer ministry and support to the affected members of the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church and the Westside Unitarian Universalist Fellowship.

UUA Thomas Jefferson District (TJD) Executive Annette Marquis has arrived in Knoxville to provide support and guidance to the Tennessee Valley and Westside congregations. Two members of the Unitarian Universalist Trauma Response Ministry, Rev. Rosemary Bray McNatt and Rev. Susan Suchoki Brown, are also on the scene to provide additional support to members of the two congregations directly affected by this tragedy. Retired UU minister Rev. Gordon Gibson was attending the service on Sunday morning when the shootings occurred; Gibson is among those ministers now providing ministerial support on site. Sue Sinnamon, TJD Director of Faith Development, also arrived in Knoxville today to work with families and youth affected by the tragedy.

UUA President William G. Sinkford, who released a statement within hours of the tragedy (see http://www.uua.org/news/newssubmissions/117154.shtml) is now in Knoxville and spoke tonight at a candlelight vigil held at the Second Presbyterian Church, located next to the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church.

Additional information and resources have been posted to UUA.org and other sites. They include:

• Trauma Response Resources for Families and Congregations, now available at http://www.uua.org/leaders/leaderslibrary/leaderslibrary/117164.shtml
• "Making Meaning After Disaster," a resource by Rev. Sarah Gibb Millspaugh is also available at: http://www.uua.org/documents/lfd/workshop_making_meaning_after_disaster_...
• Prayers from interfaith and international partners can be found at: http://www.uua.org/spirituallife/117162.shtml .
• UUWorld.org has posted information and will continue to update their pages. See http://www.uuworld.org/news/articles/117286.shtml for reporter Donald Skinner's story on the tragedy.
• Information on vigils and services of remembrance is being collected and posted at http://www.uua.org/news/newssubmissions/117287.shtml .
• The Unitarian Universalist Association has opened a web space for those who wish to share messages of support with Unitarian Universalists of Knoxville. Please visit this new site to read or to post your own message: http://knoxvillesupport.blogspot.com/ .

Information on the Unitarian Universalist response to the Knoxville shootings will be updated regularly and posted at http://www.uua.org/news/newssubmissions/117156.shtml .

For continuing Unitarian Universalist Association news and information, subscribe to UUA-l@lists.uua.org .