Jubilee program
3 AND 6 MONTH OPTIONS
“Puts your feet on the ground.”
“The program gave me a platform to help support what my local church was doing in social issues and to bring new ideas and some new skills to the congregation that were missing.”
The Jubilee program is for adults who are interested in integrating faith and justice work into their lives in a meaningful and transformative way. In this online program participants will explore and deepen their understanding of theology, systemic injustice, and the methodologies of social change. The small group cohort meets weekly for skill and knowledge building workshops accompanied by discussion and spiritual reflection.
Each cohort is kept small (8-12 people) to allow for deep discussion and connection. Space is limited so we encourage you to fill out the interest form if you think you’d like to join a cohort.
We currently offer two versions of the Jubilee program:
The 3-month Jubilee program provides a basic foundational introduction to social justice in faith, in personal reflection, and in methodology and action. Our next cohort starts in October 2024 and interest forms must be received by September 15th.
The 6-month Jubilee program includes a more robust collection of workshops and provides more time for each small group cohort to further deepen their justice-centered discussion, exploration, and growth. This 6-month in-depth program will begin in January 2025. Space is limited and we ask that interest forms be submitted by December 1st, 2024.
JLP has run regional specific cohorts for UCC conferences in both the Pacific Northwest and Southern New England regions, building community and cohesion within the conference and boosting churches involvement in systemic justice work.
Jubilee is an ecumenical program – contact us if you’re interested in building a cohort for your denomination, conference, synod, or church.
INTEREST FORM FOR JUBILEE
The Jubilee program is comprised of four complementary components:
EDUCATION
Workshops take place every month. Depending on the program, areas of development include: Progressive Christianity, Racial Justice, Nonviolence, Forms of Social Change, Social Location and Facilitation Skills. Each workshop is accompanied by discussion to process and explore application.
SOJOURNING
As faithful people, we are called to do the work of justice in community. Participants will explore and deepen their faith in monthly reflection gatherings with a spiritual sojourner, while also providing support and accountability to one another in their justice work.
COMMUNITY WORK
Each participant will work with JLP to identify a community justice organization with which to volunteer. Working with agencies directly involved in social justice work provides participants the opportunity to see this work in action, meet others engaged in similar work, and be a contributing force to the work of justice in their community.
CHURCH ENGAGEMENT
Our communities of faith can be centers of hopeful change and transformation. Participants will work with their existing faith community to enliven and inspire congregational mission and ministry through justice-centered projects.
FAQs
How many hours can I expect to spend on the program per week? Will the hours be flexible?
Jubilee participants will build their hours around their schedule and the needs of their community agency, but average between 6-10 hours per week. Workshops, discussions and sojourning are monthly, occurring on the same day of the week, usually in the evening.
Are there age restrictions on the program?
The Jubilee program is for adults. Often participants are in a transition point in their life or have time and flexibility to intentionally develop their faith and justice work.
What is the cost of the program?
The cost of the 3-month program is $250 and the cost of the 6-month program is $500. We encourage participants to talk with their congregational leadership to collaborate on fundraising a contribution or scholarship.
What if I am not currently part of a church?
We anticipate that most participants will be coming from a congregation, however we understand that not all participants may be currently active in a faith community. We will work with candidates to find a congregation with which to connect.
Do I need to live in a specific place to participate?
Jubilee is available to anyone in the United States or beyond (time zones being the main limiting factor). It can be challenging away from more urban centers to find a community agency involved in systemic justice, but we will work together to find something.
What do I need to participate in jubilee?
You will need a computer, a Zoom account, and reliable internet access to participate in this online program. We will do our best to assist with setup and troubleshooting. We also request that you commit to attending in person and be on camera to help build group connection.