The deadly shooting at a historic black church in Charleston, South Carolina, was the subject of Sunday sermons and reflection in San Diego and around the country.
Dylann Roof, 21, was charged with shooting and killing nine Bible study members Wednesday at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church. Roof is white and authorities believe the shooting was racially motivated.
A number of San Diego faith leaders say it is time to have a serious discussion about America's racial divide. An upcoming forum in San Diego, tentatively being called "Healing the Racial Divide," will start the conversation by bringing together clergy from black, Hispanic and white churches. The forum is not yet scheduled.
The Rev. Shane Harris, president of the San Diego chapter of the National Action Network, said it will let participants "go beyond what we're used to, to really connect, even if we have our differences."
"When we see these issues, we want to run to the black community, but how about when these things happen, we bring everyone together to have a conversation?" Harris said, remembering that the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. called 11 a.m. Sundays the "most segregated hour in Christian America."
The Rev. Cornelius Bowser with Charity Apostolic Church said it's easy to bring people together after a tragedy, and the challenge is to move forward.
"Everyone is in their own little box and hopefully this conversation brings us out of our boxes," Bowser said, referring to churches throughout the San Diego region.
Both men said on KPBS Midday Edition Monday they want to see the churches become more involved in communities affected by racial disparities and in the conversation about gun control.
"We are really hearing a cry from the community,” Harris said. "People are shaken. We're stepping into a more dangerous time when people can walk into anywhere with a gun."
Harris is also urging more men to take on roles in the church.
"What if there were more men in that church (in Charleston)? We do have a spiritual safety net, but we also need to make sure we have men watching over the church," Harris said.
But both men said the first step after the shooting is forgiveness.
"This gives us an opportunity to have a discussion about why we love and forgive, and how people have an inner strength,” Bowser said.
