Welcome to Economics for the Common Good

Proclaim liberty throughout all the land, unto all the inhabitants thereof.

− Leviticus 25:10 − also inscribed on the US Liberty Bell

You have come to a primary web source on jubilee economics − an important new direction for economics in the 21st century. The alternative economics we both affirm and seek is called by various names: jubilee economics, abundance economics, gift economy, economy of grace, sustainable economics, sabbath economics − to name some of the more frequently used. JEM believes that real change or paradigm shift is needed now for a more just and sustainable world. As such, we encourage the practice of an economics rooted in the abundance of creation. To learn more please see the About JEM and FAQs pages.

Click here for a brief introduction to jubilee economics.

Upcoming Events of Interest

Nurturing the Prophetic Imagination: An Interdisciplinary Conference

March 24-26, 2010

Point Loma Nazarene University

San Diego, CA

JEM will present a workshop/panel presentation at the conference entitled "Jubilee and Avatar: A Biblical Economy for This Economic Moment."

In the wildly popular movie Avatar, the Na'vi (Hebrew word for "prophet) nurture our prophetic imagination with their utter commitment to a worldview and economy aligned with Creation. The biblical jubilee is just such an economy and worldview. Long ignored by even biblically literate congregations, campuses, and businesspeople, the biblical jubilee is being reborn as an economic model with astonishing relevance for today's economic and ecological moment. Interact with a panel who are reclaiming the jubilee economy for today with prophetic imagination, bringing with them perspectives from the Global South, academia, indigenous peoples, and the corporate world.

Panelists:

• Ross and Gloria Kinsler, authors of The Biblical Jubilee and the Struggle for Life and editors of God's Economy: Bible Studies from Latin America; former missioners in Guatemala and Costa Rica.
• Scott Klinger, Director of Corporate Engagement for First Peoples Worldwide; Associate Fellow at Institute for Policy Studies, Program on Wealth and Inequality.
• Dan Swanson, self-identifies as Pentecostal/Evangelical/Ecumenical; leads immersion trips to Chiapas , MX; co-founder of Jubilee Economics Ministries and now forming an Ecumenical Center in Puebla , MX.
• Lee Van Ham, director of Jubilee Economics Ministries, author of Reading the Bible Economically and upcoming DVD series on Living a Jubilee Economy Today.

In addition, two of JEM's board members will present papers at the conference:

• "God's Economy — A Heterodoxy Right for This Time" by Lee Van Ham.
• "Revolutionary Koinonia: Latin American Politics, the Mission of God and the Prophetic Imagination" by Dan Swanson. An abstract of Dan's paper is available at his blog, rocajem.blogspot.com.

For more information about the conference, visit the event website at www.pointloma.edu/Prophetic_Imagination.htm.

Urban Collective — "Theology on Tap" Speaker Series

St. Paul's Cathedral

2728 Sixth Avenue

San Diego, CA

April 21 from 7-9:30 pm

Presenter: Lee Van Ham

Topic: "Honoring Our Mother (Earth) and Father (Sky)"

We can make economic choices every day that connect our spirituality with the new economic story needed in this economic, ecological moment. No need to wait for governments, technologies, etc.

New on our website . . .

The 2020 Congregation Initiative

Your congregation or organization can play a vital role in creating a new economy. To learn how, go to our Institute for Change page.

November 2009 Metanoia.

Recently Added Pages

• Green Energy
• Investing Green

2009 SEN Conference Report

For details visit the U.S. Solidarity Economy Network website.

Workbooks and Training

Reading the Bible Economically

by Lee Van Ham

For more information or to order a copy, please go to our RBE page.

Shift Happens: Journey to Sustainable Behavior

by David Miller and Lee Van Ham

To learn more about this unique resource, click on the workbook cover below.