VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 9/12/12)—American Baptist Churches USA General Secretary Rev. Dr. A. Roy Medley issued the following statement on September 12, 2012, following the violence in Libya and Cairo that led to the death of a U.S. Ambassador and three others:

As American Baptists we have been in the forefront of building bridges of understanding between Christians and Muslims. We abhor all forms of violence carried out in the name of faith. Hence we join with other voices in stating our abhorrence at the recent violence in Libya.  Because of our firm stance throughout our history on issues of religious liberty, we are also repelled by mischaracterizations of the faith of others and their faith leaders. We join our hearts and prayers with others for all who commit their lives to working for just peace and the common good. 

American Baptist Churches USA is one of the most diverse Christian denominations today, with 5,500 local congregations comprised of 1.3 million members, across the United States and Puerto Rico, all engaged in God’s mission around the world.