Anglican Missions: Supporting the victims and victims' families of the Christchurch mosque shootings.

On behalf of the Anglican Church of Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia, and Churches within the worldwide Anglican Communion, Anglican Missions has launched a Relief appeal to demonstrate the aroha of the Anglican Church and its members towards the victims and families affected by the mosque shootings in Christchurch, New Zealand on Friday 15th March 2019.

All funding raised in this appeal by Anglican Missions will be passed on to Victim Support.

Archbishops Philip Richardson and Don Tamihere, joint leaders of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa New Zealand have issued a joint statement:

"We are shocked at the appalling and horrific acts of violence that occurred in Christchurch today.

We feel utterly saddened for those who have lost their lives, and for their families and loved ones who mourn them. Indeed we mourn with them as fellow citizens and members of the same human whanau, and we condemn the despicable and cowardly acts of violence that took their lives.

The freedom of worship and religious life is an absolute right to all in this land. We choose to stand with our Muslim brothers and sisters and support their continued and inalienable right to live and worship here in peace.

All of us who live here in Aotearoa New Zealand must stand in solidarity in the face of such evil – and we call upon Anglicans throughout Aotearoa New Zealand to uphold all those affected in prayer, and to respond to this act by rejecting the rhetoric of hatred and religious intolerance, and to show compassion and kindness to all our neighbours who wish to live here in peace.”