ELCA NEWS SERVICE
June 4, 2009
ELCA Congregation Grieves after Member Shot in Church
09-127-FI
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The funeral for Dr. George Tiller will
be June 6 at College Hill United Methodist Church, Wichita,
Kan. Tiller was shot and killed May 31 while serving as an
usher for Sunday worship at nearby Reformation Lutheran
Church, where he was a member. Tiller was 67.
The funeral will begin at 10 a.m. Tiller's family
requested College Hill because it offers more available
seating than Reformation.
"All the different stages and symptoms of grief are
happening here," said the Rev. Lowell R. Michelson, senior
pastor for Reformation, a congregation of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). He said many began their
"journey of healing" by gathering the evening of the shooting
for a vigil with the Rev. Gerald L. Mansholt, bishop, ELCA
Central States Synod, Kansas City, Kan.
This week a team of crisis intervention specialists is
meeting with members of Reformation in groups and individually,
Michelson said. The specialists "helped us name some of those
things that we haven't been able to put a name to in our anger,
sadness, confusion and disbelief." They will continue
counseling the congregation through weekend worship services.
The Rev. Kristin M. Neitzel, associate pastor, is working
with parish nurses and lay ministers to care for "those folks
who are noticeably absent," Michelson said. They will be
mobilizing all congregation members to support each other in
the days ahead.
Michelson is preparing to preach the funeral sermon. He
said the family selected verses from the Gospel of John, in
which Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life. Those
who believe in me, even though they die, will live."
Others at the funeral will reflect on Tiller's life, and
Michelson said he plans to "talk about the promises of God
and the hope that we have in the one who loved us first."
Tiller was one of a few doctors in the United States who
provided abortions after the 21st week of pregnancy. Scott
P. Roeder, 51, was arrested and charged with murder in
connection with the shooting.
According to KAKE television, Wichita, the family's
lawyer, Dan Monnat issued a statement: "While the funeral of
Dr. George Tiller will be open to the public, Dr. Tiller's
family has requested that no video or audio recording be
allowed during any portion of the funeral service Saturday.
The family respectfully asks that all media honor their
wish to preserve the privacy of the occasion, both inside
the church and in any overflow areas."
The family's lawyers issued a statement earlier at the
request of Jeanne Tiller, the Tillers' four children and 10
grandchildren:
"We would like to express the family's thanks for the
many messages of sympathy from our friends and from all
across the nation. We also want to thank the law enforcement
officers who are investigating this crime.
"Our loss is also a loss for the city of Wichita and
women across America. George dedicated his life to providing
women with high-quality health care despite frequent threats
and violence."
-- -- --
The full text of a statement by the Rev. Mark S.
Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop, is at http://tinyurl.com/p8y69r
on the ELCA Web site.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask]
http://www.elca.org/news
ELCA News Blog: http://www.elca.org/news/blog
