Dear Friends, Neighbors, and Members of St. Cyprian's,

This morning at St. Cyprian's 40+ people of faith from throughout the Bay Area gathered in the Community Hall to discuss this subject, "The Occupy Movement and Our Faith: Is This Real Change and Should the Religious Community Be a Part of it?" The event was organized by Interfaith Allies for Occupy & the answer was a resounding yes! That shouldn't surprise the readers of this message, or members of St. Cyprian's who have been following, discussing, praying for, joining in acts of solidarity and care for this movement for many months now.  Also around the room there was a deep commitment to nonviolence and the recognition that this requires teaching, discipline and practice. The film  "A Force More Powerful" was recommended as one important tool in this effort.  

As one who has participated in nonviolent civil disobedience (this week even for marriage equality) there's an important role for those supporters who are on the sidelines. This role is often one of communication and articulation of what the action means, listening to the voices of those who criticize, reject or ignore the act and helping people less familiar understand how this work is rooted in our faith traditions. Faith communities of all shapes and sizes, I believe, have a responsibility to teach nonviolence, sadly there are many churches where that term is rarely used.  One of today's speakers Rabbi Moshe Levin held up with great passion the responsibility of our faith communities not only to teach nonviolence but also to give prophetic witness. Listing the names of the Hebrew prophets, Micah, Isaiah, Jeremiah... --- the Rabbi urged all of us to question the enormous economic inequality in this country linking our cries, the cries of the people of Occupy, to these ancient voices against greed.   Later another panelist working in the Excelsior and Bayview neighborhoods of San Francisco (where a number of St. Cyprian's congregants reside) described how organizations are working to save people from loosing their homes due to foreclosure.  

In the same room where this large group gathered today, a smaller group came together last night to view a film presented by Deacon Eric Metoyer. One of the topics portrayed was the school-to-prison pipeline, and the rise of the prison-industrial complex. The consensus around the table was that these topics and this conversation must continue.  

St. Cyprian's mantras --- Faith, Action, Community and "Everyone Matters" invite us to deep engagement in the real life challenges facing our families, communities and neighborhoods. This deep engagement is not new to this congregation. When I first started at St. Cyprian's in 2009 I found some old letters by Bishop Block writing to a priest in Alabama urging him to come serve St. Cyprian's. In one letter the Bishop described his vision for a "School of the Prophets" that would address economic and racial issues facing the city, state and nation. I wonder what those two ministers of the gospel would say to us today, would they witness a "School of the Prophets" taking shape on Turk & Lyon? I wonder what such a school would really look like in San Francisco in 2012?  

See you soon at Turk & Lyon!

Peace,

St. Cyprian's Episcopal Church

415-987-3029

turkandlyon@gmail.com