From Thinking Aloud, the blog of Bishop David Chillingworth, Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church:
In the SquareI hope Bishop David doesn't mind that I borrowed his entire post. I agree with the two Bishops David that the Gospel has a 'bias to the poor'.
by david
‘One of the clergy at St Paul’s said that he found Jesus in the Occupy encampment. Do you expect to find Jesus here?’
As an opening question from a reporter from The Times as I arrived at the Occupy camp in St Andrews Square in Edinburgh .. it seemed challenging enough to be going on with. To which I responded that I expected to find Jesus in every place of suffering and poverty – indeed with the late Bishop David Shepherd I believe that the Gospel has a ‘bias to the poor’. But I also expect to find Jesus among bankers of good will and integrity .. among financiers and politicians who are desperately trying to rescue a failing financial system .. After all Jesus called Matthew the Tax-Collector
I’ve been wanting to visit for some time and I was glad to do so today. They are a community – attempting to function without leaders. They have a cause but they don’t see themselves as strategists – they are there and they intend to stay there, letting their presence and perseverance speak for itself.
And of course the really interesting thing is the speed with which the conversation turns to what the Bible says or doesn’t say about their issues. In that sense it is humbling to be with them because they expect so much from those who claim to stand for something better – and the question about whether or not Jesus was there was maybe not so wide of the mark.
Here's the link to website of Occupy Edinburgh.
Great quote, Mimi - thank you.
ReplyDeleteYou might enjoy this Guardian obituary of the late Bishop David Sheppard, someone for whom I had a tremendous admiration:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/2005/mar/07/guardianobituaries.religion
I'm particularly struck by the observations that the conversation so quickly turns to what the bible says. This is astonishing in largely secular Britain and I hope it puts the church in a very good starting position for becoming a major player in the conversation.
ReplyDeleteTim, David Sheppard sounds like a remarkable man. It's amazing to read of the cooperation between him and the RC bishop of Liverpool.
ReplyDeleteErika, for all the scorn that so many profess for institutional religion, a good many of the secular folks seem to take the Gospels more more seriously than the self-professed religious folks, and they continue to look to the religious institutions for leadership and inspiration.