[Episcopalians for Global Reconciliation] In the same week that the federal government launched a $1 billion lawsuit against Bank of America for “spectacularly brazen” mortgage fraud, Bishop Thomas Shaw and Episcopalians from across Massachusetts came together on Saturday morning in Boston’s Government Center for a march and a worship service in support of economic justice.

“As Christians, we are our brother’s and our sister’s keeper,” said Marisa Egerstrom, Campaigns Director of Episcopalians for Global Reconciliation (EGR), who helped to plan the day’s events. “We are obligated to love our neighbors by moving our accounts, credit cards, and investments to banks that do not commit mortgage fraud, practice discriminatory lending, unfairly foreclose with illegal robo-signing, or gouge consumers with hefty and often financially crippling fees.”

During the service, worshipers placed Bank of America credit and debit cards into offertory plates. The cards were then destroyed, and a blessing was said over those who pledged to bank locally and stand up to banks that defraud the American people.

“Today we celebrate that we can, as a community and as a part of our Christian commitment to one another, pledge to conduct ourselves in a more responsible, sustainable, and life-giving way,” said Egerstrom. “There is nothing life-giving about too big to fail.”

“The Church needs to be at the forefront of economic reconciliation in our country. Episcopalians for Global Reconciliation is proud to sponsor this public Eucharist to bring attention to economic inequality and the need for economic reconciliation in the United States,” concluded Dr. John Hammock, EGR Co-Chair.

Photos of the event licensed for commercial use are available online.

Episcopalians for Global Reconciliation was formed in 2006 as a Christ-centered grassroots national organization seeking to build an effective and dynamic movement to heed the call within the Episcopal Church to alleviate extreme global poverty. EGR uses a three pronged approach of prayer, study and action as it develops leaders within dioceses and congregations.