The U.S.
government reopens today and federal employees are back to work. As I got in touch with what it must have felt
like for those who faced not getting pay for over 2 weeks, I was reminded of
some creative ideas that came out of a Holy Currencies workshop. Many people live from paycheck to paycheck
with little financial room to maneuver.
A furlough with no pay may cause some of us to seek short-term loans
such as the so-called payday loans, which charge an enormous amount of interest
and fees, resulting in getting deeper into debts for many.
The idea that our friends came up with was for churches in a community to come together and pool their financial resources to create a GracEconomic Advance Fund– no interest and flexible replenishment of the fund. Instead of having to pay interest, participants in the GracEconomic Advance Fund program will agree to attend financial management classes provided by the churches. Aside from learning ways to manage ones’ finances, participants form supportive community with each other and with the good folks from the churches. Through this supportive network, participants share the truth of their experiences, find creative ways to address their concerns, determine a payment plan to replenish the Fund, and foster a realistic vision of a sustainable future for themselves and their families. A sustainable community knows how to mobilize our currencies of money to create opportunities for developing currencies of relationship and truth, fostering wellness through out the community.
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Reflection Questions for Proper 24 (Year C) Jeremiah 31:27-34 Psalm 119:97-104 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5 Luke 18:1-8 |
Eric H. F. Law
Kaleidoscope Institute
For competent leadership in a diverse changing world
www.kscopeinstitute.org
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