Christians to form 'ring of prayer' if authorities evict St Paul's protesters

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Christians from several denominations have pledged to hold a 'ring or prayer' around protesters outside St Paul's Cathedral, if bailiffs or police begin to forceably remove them.

The City of London Corporation today (18 January) won a High Court bid to evict the campaigners from outside St Paul's Cathedral. The protesters' legal team plan to appeal tomorrow. At the present time, in the UK it is legal to take part in peaceful protests in public places.

The demonstrators, who are campaigning against corporate greed, and the role of the banks in the current world recession, moved to the pavement beside St Paul's Cathedral, on 15 October after they were prevented from staying in front of the Stock Exchange. Three members of the Cathedral Chapter, including the Canon Chancellor, Giles Fraser, resigned in protest at cathedral plans to forcibly evict the camp then.

Occupy the London Stock Exchange' – known as Occupy LSX or OLSX have been following health and safely regulations given them by the police and made a wide thoroughfare to enable worshippers and visitors to access the Cathedral. They have a prayer tent and have been holding daily prayers, lectures and discussions.

Christian groups that have publicly sided with the protesters include one of the oldest Christian charities, the Fellowship of Reconciliation, and the oldest national student organisation, the Student Christian Movement, Christianity Uncut as well as the Zacchaeus 2000 Trust and the Christian magazine Third Way. In addition, London Catholic Worker, Independent Catholic News, Ekklesia, the Society of Sacramental Socialists, Quaker groups and hundreds of individuals have offered their support.

A statement by the groups said: "As Christians, we stand alongside people of all religions who are resisting economic injustice with active nonviolence. The global economic system perpetuates the wealth of the few at the expense of the many. It is based on idolatrous subservience to markets. We cannot worship both God and money."

Chris Howson, an Anglican priest from Bradford, said he will travel to London to join the ring of prayer. He said: “The Occupy movement has been the most liberating experience for the Church since the Faith in the City report in the 1980s." He added: “We cannot serve both God and Mammon!”

Barbara Kentish, from Westminster Diocese Justice and Peace said: "It is so important that the impetus that made people gather outside St Paul's to Occupy London, in protest at the financial mayhem and hardship caused by inequitable banking systems, is not lost. A firm determination to keep the issue in the public eye can only be helped by prayer from all who are longing for a better and fairer economy."

Fr Joe Ryan, parish priest at St John Vianney's Church in West Green, north London, who is head of Westminster Diocese Justice and Peace, said: "The Occupy London has given the opportunity to all members of society to make a statement on how they are dissatisfied with many aspects of our social system. They are not cranks, but people asking specific questions and offering genuine solutions. They have raised matters which have been on the minds of many people who had not the platform to air those issues. It is time that all of us asked these same questions and tried to be part of the solution ourselves."

Fr Joe has visited the camp on several occasions and took part in an ecumenical service on the steps of the Cathedral, alongside Anglican, Methodist and Quaker clergy including several from St Paul's chapter. He said: "On my visits to the site at St Paul's Cathedral, I have been impressed by those I spoke to. There was a coherence and a unity of purpose in spite of the many different personal agendas people may have had. We need to challenge our leaders, those in charge of our finances and our law and policy makers... we need to ask for accountability and transparency from those in power. These are not major demands, yet is sums up what the Occupy Movement is about."

Symon Hill, associate director of Ekklesia, who plans to join the ring of prayer, said: "In recent months, the public have seen starkly different images of Christianity. On the one hand, there is the image of a church institution concerned with order and routine. On the other hand, there are Christians backing 'Occupy' and planning a ring of prayer. They are witnessing to an understanding of Christianity that does not seek to impose power on others but to stand alongside those who are resisting the injustices of the powerful.

"Despite the good work that is no doubt done by St Paul's Cathedral, many Christians will be disappointed that some seem more concerned with the inconvenience of a campsite than with the much greater damage done by the City of London and global financial systems."

Supporters of the ring of prayer are showing their support on Twitter, by using the hashtag #Mark1115, in reference to Jesus' nonviolent direct action against financial exploitation in the Jerusalem Temple. Mark's Gospel records at Chapter 11, Verse 15 that Jesus “began to drive out those who were selling and those who were buying in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the moneychangers”.

The online pledge for those hoping to join the ring of prayer in the event of an eviction can be found at: www.gopetition.com/petitions/ring-of-prayer-at-eviction-of-ocupy-lsx.html