JEM and Faith & Money Network Are Beginning a New Partnership
By Lee Van Ham
Faith & Money Network (F&MN) is an established nonprofit with roots in the Church of the Savior in Washington, D. C. I was involved in many workshops of its predecessor organization called Ministry of Money which began over 40 years ago. Mike Little became the director of F&MN in 2007. See their website at https://
F&MN has an important mission to help people of faith connect faith to all money decisions, not just giving which is the common faith connection.
Recently, Mike Little and I talked with one another about partnership. In anticipation, he had talked with a F&MN board member so he was prepared to suggest three areas where our activities could benefit one another. All three are substantial ways for both organizations to extend our ministries.
- Immersion trips of both ministries
- Exchange writings to put in one another’s newsletters
- Participation in and promotion of the 8 session course on household practices of Sabbath Economics that Mike leads. At least one of the sessions would highlight OneEarth Jubilee.
You will see much more about this partnership in future newsletters. By all means, visit their website (below).
F&MN sent JEM the following paragraphs which introduce them in their own words.
Faith and Money Network is a teaching ministry with the goal of equipping people to transform their relationship with money, to live with integrity and intentionality, and to participate in creating a more equitable world.
We offer:
- A guide to writing a Money Autobiography
- Online study groups and Household Practices Covenant Groups where you can explore your habits and your history with money
- Money Mentoring to help you come to peace with your financial reality
- Trips of Perspective to see parts of our country through the lens of God’s economic vision
- A monthly newsletter, Making the Connection, where we share news, reflections and program updates
Led by Mike Little, Faith and Money Network aims to help its community make financial decisions out of faith rather than fear. In the process, we hope that people can live more fully as God’s faithful, interconnected people, in solidarity with the planet and all of its creatures. We’d love to get to know you! Visit us at faithandmoneynetwork.org to learn more.
Wes Howard-Brook Will Teach Us More about Biblical Jubilee
at October 16 Gathering of Circles
Recent newsletters have introduced Wes Howard-Brook and his ongoing teaching in “The Radical Bible” series that he posts to YouTube. Howard-Brook is professor emeritus after many years of teaching at the University of Seattle, a Jesuit university in Seattle, Washington.
Wes reads our newsletters and has offered to share some teaching with our Jubilee Circles and network. He’s agreed to do this via Zoom on October 16 at 10 am Pacific time (11 am Mexico time).
Howard-Brook will teach us the Four D’s of Jubilee as shown in the Gospels and do it as part of the inner-biblical argument about the important work of reshaping the community of YHWH’s people following their exile in Babylon. He will show how similar the options were then to what is happening in our world today.
There are three different approaches used by biblical writers for shaping YHWH’s community of faith.
- The Ezra-Nehemiah approach was to ban “foreigners” while collaborating with empire.
- The Genesis approach was to declare all humans in “the image of God” and show the evils of concentrations of human power (including religious power).
- The Leviticus approach shows an interweaving of communal liturgy and socioeconomic justice for all.
Here’s your invitation to participate. Even if you are not part of a Jubilee Circle, we invite you to this Zoom gathering. Send your request to john@jubilee-economics.org. John will send you the Zoom link you need.
Erupting of the Feminine as Masculine Domination Teeters
It Was the Topic at the September 6, Jubilee Forum
Our souls (psyches) have an anatomy just as our bodies do. Basic to the structures of our souls are archetypes. They are not only structures but also energies and potentials. Two prominent archetypes currently are the feminine and masculine. Our souls need these to live in creative tension, neither dominating or bowing to the other. For too long the masculine has dominated, the feminine has bowed. We see that in the behavior of genders and society’s expectations as well as political actions repressing women. The struggle extends to climate change as Mother Earth continues her struggles with the extractive-polluting economies designed by humans.
But now we are seeing the eruption of the feminine from being dominated. The masculine is frightened and angered by the loss of control and acts out destructively, and horrifically. But the nasty behaviors of the masculine only show that it is teetering, and often collapsing. We also see a new partnership emerging among some people, some eco-regions, as well as in business and social organizations. Religions have too long been dominators of the feminine. But the feminine will not be denied. She lives in our souls and in creation’s ways.
Participants in the September One Earth Jubilee Forums had a lively conversation on this topic. Please come to future forums. They are always one hour long, 9-10 am, on the first Saturday of the month. Register for free by emailing john@jubilee-economics.org. The October 6 forum will have guest, Michael Johnson, an award-winning documentary filmmaker, who will tell us about his upcoming documentary on prophetic voices in farming—in particular, the exceptional work and thoughts of Wes Jackson of the Land Institute in Salina, Kansas.
Taking a Peek at the Extensive Training Programs of the Yobel School
Pedro Robledo Ramírez, Director, Teacher, and Author
Pedro Robledo has developed his calling to train church leadership in underserved rural areas of southern Mexico. He has done this as part of the Yobel School in the San Cristobal Jubilee Circle. We feature just a bit of his work in this newsletter as we show him pictured with a few graduates of a particular program and also at an event where he presented his new book about the Christian Effort movement in Mexico and some other countries.
The graduation of students who completed their biblical-theological training took place in San Cristóbal de Las Casas. For the most part, the study plans were carried out in virtual mode. The courses were facilitated by teachers who are specialists in their areas and with master’s and doctoral degrees from Mexico and abroad.
The graduation program was inter-institutional, between the Nicaraguan Evangelical University “Martin Luther King Jr.” (UENIC) and the University of Chiapas (UDECH). This was in compliance with a signed agreement that YOBEL has with these institutions.
The book is about the origin, development and perspectives of the Christian Effort movement as it influences Mexico and some countries around the world. Through data and photographs, this book tells readers about the participation and leadership of workers in conventions, gatherings, celebrations and other activities. In several generations and decades, the work of the Christian Effort in the church and in society is distinguished.
JEM has applied for a grant which, if we receive it, will help Yobel School launch a new course on ecological discipleship that Pedro has designed. It combines science, ecological theology, and practices that participants will implement during the process of this course.
Excitement Exists Across the Circles as Fall Is Underway
Your Donations Are Part Part of the Reason! Thanks.
Special thank yous to all who donated during the summer—months where the JEM bank account gets skinny. And now as fall is underway, please join other donors in fueling the outstanding work that Jubilee Circles are doing. Donate online, from your stocks, from trusts, and with checks. And Thank You!