Sherwood Forest

There is an area beneath Philadelphia's City Hall leading to Suburban Station known to most as "Sherwood Forest." It got its name from the many concrete pillars that fill this area.
In the evening, this is a place where dozens of folks sleep. This is also the place that one of the men suggested might be a good spot to hold our Sunday services during inclement weather.

I really like this idea of holding service in the train station...warmth, a bathroom nearby, Dunkin Donuts for our coffee hour, and easy to find. What is more, I was reassured that SEPTA police would not chase us away.

That's the good news.

The bad news is that we would not be bothered because few people cared about what happened at all in this area that often smells like urine and has rodents scurrying after the remains of food left by those who sought shelter in this space.

I hear the name "Sherwood Forest" and immediately I think of Robin Hood. Pretty up front kind of guy---you know, stole from the rich to give to the poor; and as much as I would never encourage stealing, there is something terribly out of balance when people are sleeping on cardboard in the midst of rats while above them in our Center City hotels the thread counts on the sheets are higher than the number of calories a person might get to eat that day.

So here's an idea that I'd like to put out to my seven blog followers and to anyone else who might be reading this post. It was inspired by my friend Janet who talked about buying "shares"
to support this ministry and others like it, and by Pat who spoke to me of a ministry of welcome that might include all the work of The Welcome Church and other ministries like it. I like the word "share" because that is what's at the heart of this idea.

What if we invited folks to buy shares in The Welcome Church? Or maybe just call it the Ministry of Welcome? What if we were to set it up like a corporation, and many were invited to be "shareholders"? A share could be something small, like $5.00 (then kids could even get involved) and shareholders could have some say as to how the money would be spent. And the return? That would be the wonderful way lives are transformed, and dignity is returned, and hope is renewed for people who often feel alone and neglected.

Not stealing from the rich to give to the poor, but just giving, knowing that giving is a privilege
and that healing is contagious.

I believe in the generosity of humankind. Maybe, the way to end homelessness is to "take stock." So, I am putting it out there for comments or for personal emails.

Because no one should have to sleep in Sherwood Forest.