It’s time the faith communities invited the Occupy Movement indoors - into the churches!

“And He looked up and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury. And He saw also a poor widow casting in thither two mites. And He said, Of a truth I say to you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all:

For all of these have in their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.

And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, He said, As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.” 

Luke 21 vs. 1 - 6

Our faith communities and organizations should swing their doors wide and greet the Occupiers with open arms, offering them a “thank you” for having the courage to raise the issues of growing inequality in our society, the ever widening rich - poor gap.

Concentrations of wealth and power, unfairness in our political process, the loss of opportunity — especially for the next generation — and the alarming rise of poverty in the world’s richest nations are all fundamental concerns for people of faith and those of no faith. 

So why haven’t the faith institutions invited the occupiers into churches and ministries for good conversation and a warm meal.

The Mayor of London, the Lord Mayor, the City of London Corporation and the government are trying to systematically eradicate the right to protest, to save their own iniquitous self serving system that facilitates the ever widening rich poor gap. They slowly shut down protests by legislation prohibiting protests in certain forms and by progressively disallowing this democratic right. Thus the Occupiers and protesters are deeply unwelcome, as they raise the stakes on confronting the unethical and corrupt system.


So why are the faith communities not welcoming them to stay on church property if they need someplace to go? Somewhere they can regain their strength, rest, share and revitalise in order to continue their just and peaceful protest.

Open the church basements and parish halls as safe places to sleep — provide shelter and sanctuary as cold weather descends upon the country.

It’s time both to embrace and engage this movement of people who are articulating the underlying, but often unexpressed feelings of a nation which believes with the protesters, that the economic structure of the country is unjust and skewed to benefit the banks, the rich, private landowners and the elite in power.

Bring the occupiers in out of the cold, and offer them the appreciation and warm hospitality that a Christian community and faith communities should do. 

Our government is made up of the archetypal wealthy elite, who either buy or inherit political power through their long family elitist associations or their vast wealth - over 60% of the English parliament MPs are millionaires. The uprising in this city to challenge what the elite and rich stand for, which has made the Mayor of London, the Corporation and the government uncomfortable about the protests since the beginning. 

The protestors from Occupy London are part of the global movement and the clear signal is that this movement is for economic, social and environmental justice, as well as one that addresses the growing oppression of the government, as well as the eradication of democratic rights of peaceful citizens in protesting.

The Occupy movement needs a sanctuary. And what better safe and welcome place could these people find than with communities of faith?

The churches should have provided that safe sanctuary for this generation of protesters who dream and hope of a better world, but the churches have lost the chance to engage the protestors in the spirituality of the change Occupy seeks. 


This is a social movement where spirituality, and moral sensibilities play a central role.

It seems a shame the churches failed to see the power of putting their faith into action early on, as they failed to invite the Occupiers into the churches as a sanctuary, failed to provide a place of warmth and shelter and failed to show the institution of the church as one that works as a whole body of compassion, love and values.


"And before Him shall be gathered all nations: and He shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:


And He shall set the sheep on His right hand, and the goats on His left. Then shall the King say unto them on His right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.


Then the righteous answer Him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison and came unto thee?


And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Insomuch as ye have done it unto the least of my brethren, ye have done it unto me."


Don't turn away the cold and hungry strangers who are among the occupiers ... Our cause is a just cause - we seek a better world for all, however utopian that may seem!