NASHVILLE (BP) — Southern Baptist leaders have released a statement to lament the assassination of Charlie Kirk and call for justice and peace. Kirk, 31, the president of Turning Point USA (TPUSA) and a conservative advocate, was assassinated Sept. 10 as he spoke at an event at Utah Valley University.
“Political violence is a grave sin and it represents a threat to our nation and its government. The murder of Charlie Kirk is a grave warning to us all as we consider the health of our nation and society,” the statement says.
Kirk’s social media presence is strong. More than 9 million people follow his TikTok account, 5.8 million follow his account on X, and 4.5 million people are subscribed to his YouTube channel. A video from the Utah rally moments before his death has more than 138 million views.
TPUSA has raised chapters on hundreds of college campuses. Kirk regularly visited college campuses to hold open debates with students. The events drew crowds of hundreds, if not thousands. He was well known for his conversational debate style and inviting those who disagreed with him to move to the front of the line to confront him.
“Christians are rightly grateful for Charlie Kirk’s public witness to Christ and for his courageous defense of the dignity of the unborn and a host of other moral issues. We rightly appreciate the massive influence Charlie Kirk had on our young people and in their own boldness in conviction and righteous action,” the statement said.
Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) President Clint Pressley says the statement, which has been endorsed by all 12 SBC entity leaders, is a call for justice in light of a wave of violence in the United States.
“Scripture calls God’s people to hate what is evil and cling to what is good and to do so in the name of the Lord Jesus. We believe this statement is a way we can do that while upholding the Gospel,” he told Baptist Press.
The statement is available for pastors and church leaders to sign.
“Southern Baptist pastors and leaders are invited to sign the statement and pray for our nation as we commit our gospel work to the Lord,” Pressley said.
Pressley released a video Sept. 11 calling Southern Baptists to set aside Sunday, Sept. 14, as a day of focused prayer for peace in the nation.
The statement includes not only a call for justice but the hope of the alleged assassin’s repentance.
Tyler Robinson, 22, was arrested Sept. 12 for Kirk’s killing. Police believe the Utah man acted alone. He is due in court next week.
Robinson’s father recognized him from images released by authorities and encouraged him to turn himself in, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press. He refused at first, but then changed his mind, according to the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing investigation.
Robinson’s father reached out for help to a youth pastor who helped Robinson turn himself in, the official said.
“We call for righteousness and justice and for the lawful prosecution of the assassin and urge Southern Baptists to join us in praying for his repentance and salvation,” the statement says.
It goes on to denounce any retaliatory violence.
“We also call for Southern Baptists and all Christian brothers and sisters to recommit ourselves to the defense of life, liberty, and biblical morality in our nation, and we pray for an end to political violence in any form. We condemn any retaliatory violence,” it says.
Kirk leaves behind a wife and two small children. In an emotional live video on social media Friday night (Sept. 12), just two days after her husband’s death, Erika Kirk thanked supporters for their prayers and support during the tragedy. She said her husband’s work would continue, and she and his colleagues are determined to make sure his death would not be in vain.
“We mourn with his wife, Erika, whose husband has been so murderously taken away, and for their precious children, now left without an earthly father. We pray for them, and ask our Heavenly Father to protect and console them,” the statement says.
Charlie Kirk’s body and family were escorted by Vice President JD Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance Thursday (Sept. 11) from Utah to Phoenix, Arizona, aboard Air Force Two.
President Donald Trump has said he will attend Kirk’s funeral, though plans have not been released.
The statement concludes with a call to look to Jesus Christ as the world’s “true King and our only hope”.
The statement is available at the SBC’s website.
The full statement:
Scripture calls God’s people to hate what is evil and cling to what is good and to do so in the name of the Lord Jesus. We believe this statement is a way we can do that while upholding the Gospel.
Southern Baptist pastors and leaders are invited to sign the statement and pray for our nation as we commit our Gospel work to the Lord.
A Statement of Lament and A Call for Justice
As leaders of the Southern Baptist Convention, we lament the assassination of Charlie Kirk and we mourn his death. Political violence is a grave sin and it represents a threat to our nation and its government. The murder of Charlie Kirk is a grave warning to us all as we consider the health of our nation and society.
All persons of good will must condemn this premeditated act of violence and see the depth of evil in this murder and in a spirit of violence that will undermine our ability to function as a nation.
Christians are rightly grateful for Charlie Kirk’s public witness to Christ and for his courageous defense of the dignity of the unborn and a host of other moral issues. We rightly appreciate the profound impact Charlie Kirk has had on our young people, inspiring them to live with bold conviction and take righteous action.
We mourn with his wife, Erika, whose husband has been so murderously taken away, and for their precious children, now left without an earthly father. We pray for them, and ask our Heavenly Father to protect and console them.
We call for righteousness and justice and for the lawful prosecution of the assassin and urge Southern Baptists to join us in praying for his repentance and salvation. We also call for Southern Baptists and all Christian brothers and sisters to recommit ourselves to the defense of life, liberty, and biblical morality in our nation, and we pray for an end to political violence in any form. We condemn any retaliatory violence.
We call on all our brothers and sisters in Christ to bear faithful witness to the good news of Jesus Christ — the world’s true King and our only hope — who was crucified and raised so that sinners might be forgiven and have eternal life.
May God have mercy on our nation, and may we be found faithful in our generation.
Initial Signatories:
Clint Pressley
President, Southern Baptist Convention
Daniel Ritchie
1st Vice President, Southern Baptist Convention
Craig Carlisle
2nd Vice President, Southern Baptist Convention
Daniel L. Akin
President, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
Jason K. Allen
President, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
Paul Chitwood
President, International Mission Board
James K. Dew
President, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary
D. Hance Dilbeck
President, GuideStone Financial Resources
Davis S. Dockery
President, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
Kevin Ezell
President, North American Mission Board
Adam Groza
President, Gateway Seminary
Jeff Iorg
President, SBC Executive Committee
R. Albert Mohler, Jr.
President, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
Miles Mullin
Acting President, The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the SBC
Joe Walker
Interim President, Lifeway Christian Resources
(EDITOR’S NOTE — Brandon Porter serves as vice president for communications at the SBC Executive Committee. This story has been updated.)
