[OccupySheffield] Fwd: Invite to Bishop Steven from Occupy Sheffield

[Dave Havard]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Bishop of Sheffield <bishop at bishopofsheffield.org.uk>
Date: Tue, Nov 22, 2011 at 4:06 PM
Subject: RE: Invite to Bishop Steven from Occupy Sheffield
To: deacondave777 at gmail.com
Cc: Sue Davis <sue at bishopofsheffield.org.uk>


Dear Dave****

** **

Thank you for your message.  I’m following events around Occupy Sheffield
closely.  ****

** **

As you may know the Cathedral are working hard to arrange a meeting between
ecumenical church leaders and the members of the occupy camp to explore the
issues you are raising and I am looking forward very much to taking part in
that conversation.  ****

** **

I took my own thinking and speaking on the issues a little further on
Saturday in a Presidential Address to the Diocesan Synod.  The full text is
on our website but I have pasted what I think are eight key discussion
points below.  Perhaps these could form part of the agenda when we meet?****

** **

I will be interested when we meet to explore what the members of the camp
think needs to be done about the problems you are seeking to draw to the
world’s attention.  If you could send me a concise statement of the main
points of the protest and the action you are looking for that would be
really helpful to me and to others.  ****

** **

With kind regards****

** **

+Steven****

** **

Extract from Presidential Address****

** **

** **

**1.     **Each human person is made in the image of God and is of infinite
and equal worth. ****

**2.     **Greed for more money and possessions does not lead to
happiness.  It leads to dissatisfaction and to more greed.   ****

**3.     **The laws and customs of a society should not encourage greed but
hold it in check.  Where those laws and customs simply give free rein to
greed there is something deeply wrong.****

**4.     **A healthy society should take care of the poorest, the least and
weakest who are not able to help themselves.  ****

**5.     **Human beings are not independent.  We live interconnected
lives.  We flourish best in families and in community.****

**6.     **A healthy society should strive for equality and fairness more
than it strives for prosperity.****

**7.     **A healthy society is one in which people take responsibility for
their own actions and are very cautious indeed about debt. ****

**8.     **Human beings are made for life in community and life in
communion with God.  We are called to live in the perspective of eternity.
If we do not, the result is emptiness.       ****

** **

** **

*From:* Dave Havard [mailto:]
*Sent:* 17 November 2011 10:55
*To:* Bishop's secretary
*Subject:* Invite to Bishop Steven from Occupy Sheffield****

** **

Dear Bishop Steven,

I have been asked to contact you by the General Assembly of Occupy
Sheffield.  Thank you for your recent statement about the Occupy movement.
We all thought that was very helpful.  We would like to invite you to meet
us at a General Assembly at a time convenient to you.  Best time for us
would be any evening at 7pm when we have the most number of people at the
camp.

I am disturbed that the main message from the Church of England getting to
the media at the moment is that the cathedral does not welcome the occupy
camp and wants us to leave.  We also seem to be getting bogged down in
minor points of health and safety.  I would hate to see this diocese
repeating the public relations disaster that happened at St. Paul's.  We
are asking the cathedral to engage with us in the "Big Discussion" you
called for.  They have chosen to only engage with us through Carl and this
approach is clearly not working.  Given that the protestors and the
cathedral share a common vision of inclusivity and social justice this
seems a real pity.

I have tried to meet with the dean but up to now he has not returned my
call.

Thanks again for speaking out on these vitally important issues.  I look
forward to seeing you soon.

Your brother in Christ,
Deacon Dave Havard****
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