Southern Baptist leaders released a joint statement over the weekend mourning the Sept. 10 assassination of Turning Point USA founder and activist Charlie Kirk, 31, during an event at Utah Valley University.
The statement, endorsed by SBC President Clint Pressley and 12 entity leaders, denounced political violence as a “grave sin” and urged justice while calling for the repentance of alleged gunman Tyler Robinson, 22, who reportedly surrendered with the help of a youth pastor after one of Robinson’s parents intervened.
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Addressing political violence
The Southern Baptist Convention invited pastors and churches to sign the statement and join in prayer for Kirk’s family, national peace and an end to political violence.
Kirk, a husband and father of two, was widely known for his campus debates, strong social media following and advocacy for conservative causes. His wife, Erika, vowed his work would continue. President Donald Trump is expected to attend Kirk’s funeral. Vice President JD Vance accompanied the family as Kirk’s body was returned to Arizona.
“Political violence is a grave sin and it represents a threat to our nation and its government,” the statement from Baptist leaders said. “The murder of Charlie Kirk is a grave warning to us all as we consider the health of our nation and society.”
See other related articles below:
Charlie Kirk update: Funeral date; trans roommate cooperating with authorities —Christian Post
Listening to young adults explain their love for Charlie Kirk —Baptist News Global
The Arrest of Tyler Robinson: What Do We Know About the Suspect of Charlie Kirk’s Murder? —The Briefing with Albert Mohler podcast
Charlie Kirk suspect, rhetoric —The World and Everything in It Podcast
Charlie Kirk Rallied Young Christians into a Political Movement —Christianity Today
The links above are a sampling of headlines related to the story and are not an endorsement of all viewpoints or reporting.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This report is a summary of a story written by Brandon Porter and originally published by Baptist Press. The related articles section was compiled by The Baptist Paper staff.
