Cathedrals’ World Series challenge aims to strike out human trafficking
[Christ Church Cathedral press release] As the World Series kicks off between St. Louis and Boston, the deans of Christ Church Cathedral, the Episcopal Cathedral in downtown St. Louis, and The Cathedral Church of St. Paul in downtown Boston have challenged one another to raise money for local nonprofits that help women recovering from prostitution and human trafficking … with a personal twist.
The Very Rev. Mike Kinman of Christ Church Cathedral and the Very Rev. Jep Streit of St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral in Boston are promoting “Strike Out Trafficking World Series Challenge.” Between now and the start of Game 1 of the World Series Oct. 23, Cardinals and Red Sox fans are being invited to put money in a pot in support of their team. The total pot will go to a nonprofit in the winning city.
If the Cardinals win, the money will go to Magdalene St. Louis — a two-year residential program for women coming out of prostitution, violence and drug abuse, scheduled to open in 2014. If the Red Sox win, the money will go to Amirah Boston, which is dedicated to providing effective, whole person aftercare for survivors of commercial exploitation.
Dean Streit and Kinman each put up $100 to start the pot. The Rev. Manny Faria of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church (http://www.stpetersbeverly.org/) in Beverly, Massachusetts, and Tricia Roland-Hamilton, executive director of Magdalene St. Louis also put in $100 for their respective teams to start the pot at $400. Since then it has grown to nearly $1500. People can make their pledge on the Strike Out Trafficking Facebook page— or by emailing Dean Kinman at mkinman@gmail.com with the team they are supporting and the amount they are pledging.
To make it more interesting, Deans Streit and Kinman have agreed that the losing team’s Cathedral dean will wear the cap of the winning team during their Cathedral’s services the Sunday after the Series concludes — with pictures posted on both cathedrals Facebook pages and websites.
Christ Church Cathedral is also making next Sunday a “Red Sunday” … everyone is being encouraged to wear Cardinal red to church and we will take a congregational photo after the 10 am service which will be sent to St. Paul’s Cathedral.
“We’re excited to turn the passion of these two great baseball towns into some money for fantastic ministries that help women in deep need,” Dean Kinman said. “It’s a win-win no matter what. And the way the Cardinals are playing — and Wainwright and Wacha are pitching – I think it’s going to be great to see Jep wearing that Cardinals hat on All Saints Sunday!”
This isn’t the first time Christ Church Cathedral has supported the Cardinals. Last year, the Cathedral lost a challenge with St. John’s Episcopal Church in the San Francisco Bay Area. A portion of the loose plate offering of both churches went to a local nonprofit helping the homeless in Marin County. In 2011, the Cathedral rang its bells after the last out of Game 7 of the World Series and throughout the Cardinals victory parade down Market Street. Those bells will ring again this October if the Cardinals repeat.