AN URGENT LETTER TO THE CHURCHES IN TORONTO

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

Anytime now, the City of Toronto may decide to use force to evict protestors from St James Park. We as people of faith are wrestling with the question of what to do should this happen. And we need you to join us in communal discernment as we seek to do God’s will in this place and at this time. We ask you to consider what might be our “duty of care” towards the protesters at Occupy Toronto.

If you haven’t already done so, we invite you to come to St. James Park and talk with the occupiers, and feel and listen to what they are saying. You do not have to agree with them. All we ask is that you open your hearts to listen for the word of God that may be spoken there.
The young people at Occupy Toronto have made many sacrifices to be a voice for the oppressed. They are acting as a “conscience” for all of civil society. If we dare not stand with them when they are attacked, if we do not stand in the way when our civil liberties are being violated, then we become complicit with the culture of violence that continues to make people poor, and make life painful for many in this city.

Now is the time for the churches to speak the truth to “principalities and powers” in the tradition of the Hebrew prophets and Jesus himself.

We appeal to God’s love that is present in all of you. Please help us send this letter to communities of faith everywhere so together we can do the right thing. Let the love of Christ compel us to reject violence. As people of the covenant, let us offer God’s generous embrace to all, even to those who disagree with our actions.

At a time such us this, we as churches in the city cannot be silent. May we allow Jesus to rise among us and the Spirit to walk along side us in this struggle for economic justice?
Here is a moment that invites us all as people of faith to confess that “Jesus is Lord”, and not Caesar. Here is an opportunity for us to bear witness as the body of Christ that acts “with one heart and one mind”. (Acts 4:32)

Aware of our own sinfulness, we ask that the God of Life be with us, when we resist the efforts of those who will deny people their rights to peaceful protest and freedom of assembly in our city.

Let us pray that God’s will may be done on earth as in heaven. Let us pray for the peace of our city.

We are calling for 300 followers of the Way of Jesus to step forward to form a “circle of compassion” around the protesters at St. James Park. And we are calling this action “Bethesda”. (John 5:1-18)

The people gathered around the pool of Bethesda are waiting for an angel to stir the waters that will bring wholeness and healing. Would you be willing to form a Bethesda group in your church?

You can be part of this communal action of the People of God in Toronto today.
Write to us at occupytorontochaplains@rocketmail.com or message us on our Facebook page Occupy Toronto Protest Chaplains. Please do it now.

Occupy Toronto Protest Chaplains