The Christian leader trying to break America’s link between faith and guns

Peter Cook, head of the New York State Council of Churches: ‘It starts with straight-up, honest conversations within our churches.’ Photograph: Edward Helmore/The Guardian

In the aftermath of the racist shooting that killed 10 on Saturday in Buffalo, the director of the New York State Council of Churches, the Rev Peter Cook, has been a constant presence at prayer gatherings and public memorials.

The organization he leads represents eight denominations to New York state government; and he has the ear of political leaders, including Governor Kathy Hochul, in shaping the political response to a massacre that targeted the Black community of East Buffalo – one that has been met with expressions of faith as well as anger and distress.