From its beginnings, the Canadian Ecumenical Jubilee Initiative has integrated a theological perspective into its work and vision. The earliest fruit of this effort can be seen in our Vision Statement. As well, there is a Theology Working Group which meets regularly to deepen our understanding of Jubilee Theology. Results of the group's efforts include the publication of two books: Making a New Beginning (available here on-line) and Jubilee, Wealth, and the Market (portions available on-line). To order either book, go to the publication page. 

The Theology Working Group continues to function and invites the participation of others interested in contributing to an ecumenical Jubilee theology. Fro more information on how you can participate, go here.

Contents:

» Theology Collection #2: Jubilee, Wealth, and the Market

» Theology Collection #1: Making a New Beginning

» Participating in the Jubilee Theological Process

» Additional Theology Resources Online

Jubilee, Wealth, and the Market

More wrestling with the Spirit of Jubilee, in the Bible, and in the world at the dawn of a new millennium!

This is the second volume of readings compiled by the Theology Committee of the Canadian Ecumenical Jubilee Initiative and edited by John Mihevc. It helps to capture the rich diversity of responses to Jubilee across Canada and around the world. Coming from different contexts in Canada, and internationally, and writing in different formats (longer scholarly articles and shorter sermons) the authors converge in their (re)discovery of Jubilee. They help us to probe biblical texts and imagine their significance for particular biblical communities in specific historical contexts. They also help us to recognise this Spirit in movements and campaigns for social justice, eco-justice, and right relations today.

This book will assist individuals, groups and church communities in deepening their understanding of the biblical roots of Jubilee, recognising the centrality of the Spirit of Jubilee throughout the Bible, rediscovering its power to challenge and inspire us today, and seeing more clearly the challenges - and opportunities - confronting the church.

The book is 184 pages long (6" X 9", softcover) and is available for $8.00. See the publications page for order information.

» See an on-line version of the book flyer here.

» Go here for an on-line version of the book. (New portions will appear on-line each month.)

Making a New Beginning: Biblical Reflection on Jubilee

In its first year, the Theology Working Group of the Canadian Ecumenical Jubilee Initiative prepared a 132 page resource called: "Making a New Beginning: Biblical Reflections on Jubilee." The contributions are diverse, reflecting concerns with different biblical texts and threads of the stories behind them. The reflections range from longer articles to shorter sermons and presentations on a variety of Jubilee-related themes.

Most of the reflections in this collection emerged from the efforts of the Theology Committee which has been meeting over the past two years; they are supplemented by reflections and sermons from friends and colleagues in the growing global web of hope for a new beginning. We have also been collaborating with others across Canada, in Latin America, Africa and Asia, in Europe and the United States. We hope that this collection reflects the spirit of this emergent global dialogue, solidarity and collaboration, which seeks to incorporate especially the voices of historically marginalized peoples and groups, and those speaking on behalf of peace and renewal of the Earth.

This publication is meant to assist individuals, groups and church communities in deepening their understanding of the biblical roots of Jubilee, the centrality of the Spirit of Jubilee in the Bible, and the urgency of rediscovering this Spirit today. In this form, these contributions reflect only the views of the authors, and not of their organizations or the organizations supporting the Canadian Ecumenical Jubilee Initiative. And they are limited in many ways. But, we firmly believe, we are only at an early stage in an emerging global dialogue. Most of all we hope that this collection testifies to the Spirit of these dialogues. We hope that it inspires-or provokes-many other responses and other contributions. And we look forward to the next stage of dialogue, with a wider range of contributors, greater depth in addressing specific issues, and broader scope.

Copies are still available. The retail price is $8.00 a copy. See the publications page for order information.

» For a complete on-line version of Making a New Beginning, go here.

Participating in the Jubilee Theology Working Group

If you would like to participate in the Theology Working Group of the Canadian Ecumenical Jubilee Initiative, please contact Lee Cormie.

Call for Papers: Theology of Renewal of the Earth

The Theology Committee of the Canadian Ecumenical Jubilee Initiative is issuing a call for papers for the third publication on Theology and Jubilee. The theme for the third year of Jubilee is Renewal of the Earth. Within this theme two major sub-themes have been chosen: Right Relations with the Earth and Right Relations with Indigenous Peoples. We are interested in any papers, reflections, sermons etc. of varying length on these topics which could be included in this volume. The deadline for submissions is June 30, 2000. If you are interested, or know of someone who is interested, please contact John Mihevc at:

Additional Theological Materials:

 If you have additional materials related to the Theology of Jubilee, please send them to the Website Coordinators.

Additional Theology Resources Online

1. See Women and Sabbath by The Women and Economic Justice Working Group.

2. Two excellent articles by Ched Myers on Jubilee appeared in Sojourners Magazine: God Speed the Year of Jubilee! and Jesus' New Economy of Grace.

3. Jewish theologian Arthur Waskow has written numerous articles on Jubilee including From Compassion to Jubilee.

4. Mennonite theologian Waldemar Janzen's article "Has the Jubilee any Basis in History" argues that Jubilee may well have been practised in some form in ancient Isael.

5. Read an Islamic perspective on debt cancellation by Faisal Kutty entitled "Debt Forgiveness: Isn't it about time?"

6. Payment of Debt Must not Threaten Development discusses the morality of debt and debt repayment (conclusions of a meeting of Christian moralists in Italy).