As our federal government is now shut down, we’re all thinking about democracy and economics. A week ago, I had lunch with an old friend Bob Massie. Bob is the Director of the New Economics Institute, and he alerted me to their upcoming “New Economy Week – Seven Days of Action for a More Sustainable World” – October 12-18. I’m glad to introduce you and your congregation to their work because it affirms and amplifies numerous values that are at the heart of our faith and UCC perspective. In our next eMailing, we’ll provide some additional suggestions about how your congregation might engage this critically important issue.
Here’s a brief word from Bob’s associate, Nicholas Hayes:
Do you think it's time for a New Economy? A restorative economy that prioritizes people, place, and the planet, rather than exploiting and extracting from them? If you answered yes, you're not alone: many, many people do. But did you know that there's actually a movement afoot, right now, to build that very economy, growing quietly in the underbrush, like the Biblical mustard seed, all over our country? It's remained invisible to many, because few are reporting on it (yet), but it's there. That's why the New Economics Institute is organizing New Economy Week, a national week of celebration designed to shine a light on the movement to build a new economy. From October 12-18, we will be highlighting events, actions, reports, works of art, and other projects that promote the principles of democracy, justice, and sustainability, and economic alternatives based on them. We'll also have resources available from our Coalition of over 40 partner organizations, to introduce a broader public to the different dimensions of the new economy movement. We can imagine few better allies than the communities of faith who share the values at the heart of our movement, particularly the United Church of Christ, which has inspired many with its leadership in caring for Creation. As we approach New Economy Week, we look forward to sharing our resources with any individuals or congregations interested.
