JPI is a faith-based organization. This "faith-base" of Just People, Inc. is characterized by rich diversity. Ten denominations are represented on the staff and board. Additionally, we will collaborate with virtually anyone, including all recognized faith traditions and denominations in order to serve our clients. One example of such collaboration and affiliation is JPI's designation as a Jubilee Ministry Center of the Episcopal Church, USA.
In the Spring of 2003, Just People was designated by the Episcopal Church, USA as a Jubilee Ministry Center. Jubilee Ministry was created by the General Convention of the Episcopal Church USA in 1982 to minister to the poor and oppressed, to meet basic human needs, and to build a just society. A division of Peace and Justice Ministries, the Jubilee mission is
to make a direct and dynamic link between our theology and our ethics - said another way - the talk of our faith and the walk of our faith. As Christians we do this by (1) calling the church to live out its prophetic role of empowering local people to "do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with their God" (Micah 6:8) and (2) responding to the Gospel's call to "feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, welcome the stranger, clothe the naked, care for the sick, and visit the imprisoned" (Matthew 25:35).
This mission is expressed concretely through human rights advocacy, human service programs, and lay leadership and empowerment.
Part of the genius of Jubilee Ministry is that is does not seek to "reinvent the wheel" but, rather, capitalizes on existing programs for the poor. It is an organizing principle to connect and empower existing programs that arise in their unique context and in the history of a particular community.
Four sets of criteria are prerequisite for becoming a Jubilee Ministry Center:
Must be an Episcopal Congregation, ecumenical cluster with an Episcopal presence, and/or an agency with connections to the Episcopal Church.
Must be engaged in programs among and with poor and oppressed people wherever they are located.
Must include at least one or more of the following:
human rights advocacy
human service programs
lay leadership/empowerment programs
Must be willing to:
reflect theologically upon its learnings in ministry
demonstrate the operation of its programs to others as models
act as a resource center for other Jubilee Ministry Centers
Over 600 Jubilee Ministry Centers operate in the United States and in Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Honduras, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Spain, and Brazil. The first Jubilee designation for the Diocese of Northwest Texas is Just People, Inc. in Abilene. Just People provides personal, educational, and vocational services to disadvantaged youth and to homeless individuals and families. As a free-standing nonprofit agency, it is an example of the third part of the first criterion above - "an agency with connections to the Episcopal Church." Just People's board, staff, and volunteers are denominationally diverse currently representing nine denominations, but with strong Episcopal involvement.
Information for this article was gleaned from various Jubilee publications and the Jubilee website.
