Ecosystems of Jubilee: Economic Ethics for the Neighborhood

Adam Gustine & Josê Humphreys

This workshop provides a theological frame for economic justice and a practical vision for ways the church might cultivate neighborhoods of economic flourishing. 

The Old Testament triad of Jubilee, Sabbath, and gleaning were more than a set of laws; they were a way to weave God’s intentions for economic justice and flourishing into the very fabric of society. They were like a reset button meant to disrupt the natural drift toward inequity and injustice in society, and provide a rhythm of life that circled back to God’s vision for justice and social righteousness. Taking each in turn, we see how God meant to disrupt the status quo of our lives, community and society while inviting us to practice a way of life together, and in the world, that gives expression to a gospel where everything is always being set free in Christ.

The call to imagine Jubilee, Sabbath, and gleaning for our day, is an invitation to renew our commitment to seeking the peace and prosperity of our local communities and to cultivate the health of our neighborhood ecosystems so that each member of our community can thrive as God intends.