Building a Moral Economy
“Of course we want a moral economy,” we might say. But in actuality, morality and economics quarrel a lot. At the moment, economics dominates, too often with alarming consequences.
How, then, do we enact Jubilee’s aim of living a moral economy?
With open arms we welcome a new project spearheaded by Cynthia Moe-Lobeda, “Building a Moral Economy.” Cynthia is at Pacific Lutheran Seminary, Berkeley, California. The project website, https://www.
The introductory book, already available, is written by Cynthia. Five smaller books written by teammates will appear within the next 18 months. (Psst! Buy these at bookshop.org because they support independent bookstores. Buying from alternatives to online behemoths is itself a choice for building a moral 0economy.)
The book understands that it is not presenting something brand new. Rather, it is making an important contribution to the global movement for a nature-based, moral economy that generates life. Two contributions stand out for me.
One, the book conveys that building a moral economy is a global effort with tens of thousands of people working on various and innovative versions of a moral economy. If we feel alone in this effort, we need to tune in to the true picture.- Second, spirituality is seen as an inherent part of economics, not as a forced import. Groups can be skittish about the spiritual, but in so doing they exclude a vital element for economic transformation.
Anticipation—Jubilee Economics Ministries resonates with the project given our commitment to, and practices of, a moral economy in Jubilee Circles in the U.S. and Mexico. In the coming months, the work of Jubilee and this project will dance with one another in a variety of blogs, forums, and website posts. Cynthia will be at the Jubilee Forum on October 8th, 9 am -10 am PDT. We will learn a lot together and feel stronger in a bigger solidarity than we have known. Get a quick start by going to the website (above) and then scroll down to a 2.5-minute book trailer. And in Cynthia’s own words:
The moral and spiritual travesty crashes in upon us. The daily activities of the world’s high-consuming sectors (both the ultrarich and the relatively well-off like me and many of my readers) are enabled by economic systems that exploit people and Earth. … The utterly unthinkable is the normal. We are complicit without wanting to be, and often without knowing it, because the global economy hides the consequences from us.
This is a deadly disease. It defies the spiritual and moral calling to love neighbor as self, to live by compassion. Healing requires acknowledging the disease and choosing freedom from it. This book is an invitation to do so, and to enter (or continue) a healing journey….a sacred journey. (p.27, 1)
It is a strange wonder to be alive as human beings now, at this turning point in history. Our young and dangerous – yet infinitely precious – species will determine which way we go. Our decisions and actions will shape the fate of life on Earth. None before us have borne this moral weight. What we do matters! It is, therefore, a good time to be alive. (p. 11)
Mexico Delegation: Moral Economy
The Jubilee delegation to the Circles in Mexico, October 19-26, will focus especially on people-centered development and Indigenous alternatives. Development in the U.S. too often is money-centered. It displaces people in the process called gentrification. People-centered development does not displace anyone, but facilitates the people coming together to name problems they want to deal with and then agree on developing alternatives. This is one element of a moral economy. Instead of shoving people out, people participate in making things new. The Jubilee Circles in San Cristobal and San Mateo continually with the people in ways that they believe in their power to change life for the better. We’ll see exciting ways this happens.
One in five people in Mexico self-identify as Indigenous. Many work on alternatives in line with a moral economy. The Jubilee delegation will see some of these courageous, inspiring alternatives. We’ll also see in action the growing global solidarity among disparate, isolated tribal groups.
Healing Wounds of Colonization: First Peoples of Latin America Meet
San Cristobal Jubilee Circle Participates
We met as Indigenous Peoples and Afro-descendants from June 18 to 21, 2025 in Merida City, Mexico. Each with its own native language and its own processes of struggle and resistance, but with a common history: the colonization and oppression of more than 500 years. We arrived there with the hope that our dialogues would strengthen us to continue building from our communities.
This Second Encounter was financed by URI (United Religions Initiative). This Gathering, I believe, represents an important part of the work they do with the religions of the world to facilitate inter-religious dialogue and the promotion of peace.
Together with Indigenous colleagues, Rosa Nichim and Yoli Santiz, we traveled to the city of Merida. Thanks to Jubilee, for the economic support for 2 tickets, and additional expenses for cabs. For this, we are very grateful. The lodging and meals at the Holiday Inn Hotel were covered by the URI Organization and the third ticket was paid by Yolanda Santiz herself.
The beautiful thing was the exchange of experiences, we met women and men from various countries of Abya Yala known as Latin America (Honduras, Guatemala, Panama, Chile, Argentina, Mexico).
A great learning activity was the workshop offered by traditional doctors from the State of Mexico.
Another activity that gave us a lot of strength for resistance was the ceremony celebrated by the Mayan sisters from Merida, very solemn and with a lot of spiritual energy.
Various religions and spiritualities are still practiced and preserved by our native peoples. Coordinator Francisco spoke of the damage that religions have caused through colonization to cultures which already had their own beliefs and practices and customs. The truth is, I do not remember if there were any agreements but the URI board was attentive and was in solidarity at that moment with the statement and request of Coordinator Francisco.
The tourist and cultural tour was the end for us and the beginning for the URI Assembly. We went to a sacred place similar to Chichen Itza but much smaller, we felt the willingness to coexist with the representatives of the religions of the world as it gave another face to the activity.
Finally, in this report, I thank the Mother-Father God for this experience that will help us continue working for life and peace from a collective perspective, never from a personal one.
I wish you, and my work with Na’Xojobal, many blessings and that amidst the situation prevailing in your country, we always remain confident that God is present and that there will always be a solution. “May the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, guard our hearts from this day forward and forevermore, amen.”
First Peoples in Jubilee’s 25 Years and Beyond
From Jubilee’s first trip to Mexico in 2000 to our 25th year, relationships with First Peoples continue. We met with Indigenous groups displaced by Mexico’s military operations of oppression aimed to clear the way for international corporations to gain access to the minerals in Chiapas. Mexico had changed its constitution to become part of NAFTA (a trade agreement between Canada, U.S., and Mexico now undermined by Trump). That constitutional change privatized the vast areas of commons land where First Peoples had lived forever. One Indigenous elder we met with called this latest policy of displacement “the latest manifestation of genocide.”
During intervening years Jubilee marketed Fair Trade coffee grown and roasted by First Peoples. On our trips to Mexico, delegations frequent a restaurant owned by First Peoples and appreciate its wall murals and literature resisting First World oppression. Jubilee created a podcast with Patricia St. Onge (Haudenosaune) that taught Jubilee a lot about creating trust between white people and First Peoples. In the San Cristobal Jubilee Circle, Talita Cumi (Náhuatl) is integral to Jubilee and does amazing work with First Peoples. (See her report above on her experience at the Encuentro of Indigenous People and Afro-descendants of Latin America.) This October, the Jubilee Delegation to Mexico plans to visit the school of the Zapatista peoples, and we hope to include a First Peoples’ person in the Delegation.
The Immoral Economy’s Cruelty to Immigrants
When an alien resides with you in your land, you shall not oppress the alien. The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the native-born among you; you shall love the alien as yourself. Leviticus 19:33-34
Treatment of immigrants in the U.S. has become littered with accelerated cruelty. In San Diego and elsewhere, faith leaders and caring people are going to courthouses where immigrants appear for asylum check-ins. Immigrants are there to obey the law of the courts, but are then ambushed by lawless agents of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The faith and caring attendees let the immigrants know they are not alone, observe the behavior of ICE agents, speak to the press, and use prayer, songs, and words on the street outside the courthouse to testify to what they are doing and why. The Catholic Diocese also provides legal and social services to immigrants through Catholic Charities, assisting with family reunification, empowerment, and social integration.
Friends of Jubilee participate in these newly forming actions to accompany legal immigrants seeking asylum, a highly stressful visit. Jubilee stands with the immigrants as the Bible and our hearts direct us to do.
Funding in Our 25th Year
We’re committed to building on the strong successes of our 25 years of Jubilee in the U.S. and Mexico. Many of you make clear you’re just as committed as we are to seeing the biblical Jubilee in action today. Jubilee beyond this anniversary year will take many new donations, some larger and scores of medium and small ones.
Summer brings some anxiety to JEM because donations fall. So, stand with us, please. You see the work we do if you read these regular newsletters. It’s truly great work done on a low budget with an abundance of volunteer effort. Your donation will fuel this work into the fall season. Thank you.
