Newfoundland, Pennsylvania, Church Holds Commitment Ceremony With Unloaded AR-15s, Prompting School Closure

The Wallenpaupack Area School District announced that it would close for a day because of a ceremony at a nearby church, the World Peace and Unification Sanctuary, which invited guests to bring unloaded AR-15 rifles. According to Report 1 from BBC, the church said it had planned the event before a school shooting in Parkland, Florida, on 14 February left 17 people dead. The event was described as a mass wedding that would host hundreds of couples renewing their vows with symbolic items such as crowns and AR-15 rifles.

Superintendent Michael Silsby wrote to parents that there was no direct threat to the school or the community. Students at Wallenpaupack South Elementary School were to be moved to a campus about 15 miles (24 km) away, and Silsby said security would be increased at school all week. Parents were permitted to keep their children home. Report 1 said the district’s decision to close was based on the nearby event, though officials stated there was no direct threat.

Church spokesman Tim Elder said the church believes the AR-15 symbolizes the “rod of iron” in the Book of Revelation. Report 2 from CBS News said the church encouraged couples to bring the weapons and that the ceremony took place on a Wednesday. It described worshippers wearing crowns, holding AR-15 rifles, drinking holy wine, and exchanging or renewing wedding vows. The Rev. Sean Moon, who leads the church, prayed for a kingdom of peace, a “peace police” and a “peace militia.”

Report 2 said an attendant checked each weapon at the door to confirm it was unloaded and secured with a zip tie. Elder, the church’s director of world missions, told CBS that the ceremony was meant to bless couples, not inanimate objects. The district moved students at the nearby elementary school to other campuses, a step taken to protect children, which reflects a concern for protecting those who cannot protect themselves (Proverbs 31:8-9).

The reports differ in how they describe the event’s reception. Report 2 said Lisa Desiena, a protester from Scranton, held a sign calling the group an “armed religious cult.” Report 1 described the church as “pro-gun,” a characterization that appeared in that report’s own wording and was not attributed to a specific speaker. Neither report described the protest as having caused any disruption to the ceremony.

Among those who attended was Sreymom Ouk, 41, who came with her husband. She said the AR-15 is useful for defending her family.