We are a movement for liberation, rooted in progressive Christianity and born in West Virginia.
We follow the call of Jesus and the prophets to dismantle systems of oppression, speak truth to power, and move beyond acts of charity to practices of solidarity with people who have been historically excluded by Empire and the Church.
We build power among people of faith and provide a platform for collective action, with a focus on racial justice and queer justice.
Why jubilee? Why justice?
God’s intent for humanity is found in the New Testament Greek word sozo. Most often translated as “salvation,” it gets reduced in much of American Christianity to an individual, spiritual deliverance from sin. However, its meaning is much broader, referring to comprehensive wholeness—restoration in body as well as spirit.
In the Biblical practice of jubilee, God directs God’s people to conduct a massive societal economic reset every fifty years. In the year of Jubilee, all material debts are canceled. Power differentials are eliminated. All are restored to even footing, and each has what they need.
Scripture continually depicts God’s desire for God’s people to engage in justice—the restoration of relationships among people and between God and people, yielding wholeness for everyone. (We hope you’ll watch the Bible Project’s video about Biblical justice.)
Our logo was designed by a gay Christian in West Virginia and is inspired by the prophet Amos in the Hebrew Scriptures, who said, ”Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.” Amos 5:24.
A theology of liberation
Our work is informed by the principles of liberation theology, which assert that power structures systemically perpetuate and maintain power differentials that exploit people and that God is on the side of people who are oppressed by power structures.
We seek dignity and flourishing for all people, which requires us to follow God’s lead and enter into solidarity with people who are excluded, exploited or neglected by systems of power.
We pursue justice and jubilee. For liberation. In solidarity.
Join us.
We honor the four virtues of curiosity, humility, vulnerability, and authenticity, and we cultivate four practices of solidarity, community, mutuality, and joy.
Check out our sermons on virtues and practices.
“What does the Lord require of you, but to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God?” Micah 6:8
Virtues
Practices
Our Areas of Focus
Queer Justice
The beauty of God’s diverse creation includes a wide variety of gender and sexual identities. Being queer and Christian are not mutually exclusive, but sometimes it can be hard in West Virginia to live out those identities simultaneously.
We offer connection, a safe space, and resources for clergy and laity who are queer or queer-affirming.
West Virginia has the highest population per capita of transgender youth in all 50 states. From the removal of Pride flags in school classrooms to attacks on gender-affirming health care, this can be a hard place to live and identify as transgender. We advocate for the rights of LGBTQ+ folx in local municipalities and at the State Legislature.
Racial Justice
The beauty of God’s diverse creation includes a wide variety of racial and cultural identities.
Ninety percent of Black West Virginians live in 15 counties, while ten percent live in the other 40 counties. This population density disparity creates hardships for Black residents all over the state and can make it difficult to foster collaborative relationships between BIPOC and white West Virginians in rural spaces.
We actively support Black leaders and Black-led organizations while also offering opportunities for non-Black residents to engage in advocacy and anti-racism work. We advocate for the rights of Black residents to safe and equitable school environments, protection against discrimination based on natural hairstyles, and a host of other legislation that disproportionately impacts BIPOC West Virginians.
What We Do
Build power
We love to meet folx who want to see the Church do the right thing! We build relationships, connect like-minded laity and clergy, and create safe spaces in which to gather and learn. We have previously hosted a Big Gay Church Brunch, fundraisers at a local bar, and virtual trainings on resisting racism, best practices for queer-affirming clergy, indigenous justice, and citizen lobbying.
Develop advocates for justice
We speak at public hearings and demonstrations, engage in grassroots organizing, and provide guidance to laity and clergy who want to engage in public advocacy. We provide information and calls-to-action during Legislative Session around our areas of focus. Sign up for our emails!
Cultivate practices of solidarity
We help churches and ministries move beyond charity to practices of solidarity. Ministries of charity which do not involve directly impacted people as decision-makers and architects mirror the same power dynamics as exploitative systems, objectifying the recipients of charity. We help churches transform their direct service ministries by dismantling those dynamics.
Show up
We are available to guest preach or teach in your ministry setting (or with a group of like-minded folx). We help people join up with our network through public outreach by hosting informational tables at events such as Black Policy Day, Fairness for All Day (LGBTQ+), and Compassion Calls Us Day (WV Council of Churches). We’d be happy to table at your event!
What West Virginians are saying
“The social justice realm is so secular that I feel out of place when we share our motivations, because mine come from my Christian faith.”
“When I was in a soul-searching phase in college as a gay man who was raised Southern Baptist, it would have helped to know that just one person thought like me, especially a pastor.”
“I’m so grateful to know Justice & Jubilee exists. A couple of years ago I literally had to google ‘How can I be a Christian and support trans people?’ because I didn’t know where to turn.”
“I thought I was the only one. I’m grateful to be connected to other clergy who think like I do.”
“This is the first space in which I’ve gotten to have these kinds of conversations with other Black women.”
“You caused me to look into my faith again.”
“You’re the first pastor who’s ever loved me for who I am.”
“My religious trauma heals a little bit every time I’m around y’all.”
“You slay.”
Our Current Work
“Spilling the Black Girl Tea: Unfiltered Stories from the Heart of Appalachia” is a multimedia project built on the fundamental belief that the people who are the least heard have the most important things to say.
Christian Resources
National
- Christians Against Christian Nationalism
- Christians for a Free Palestine
- Christians for Social Action
- Ekklesia Project
- gaychurch.org
- General Board of Church and Society (United Methodist)
- Human Rights Campaign | Faith Positions
- The Incarnation Institute for Sex & Faith
- Justice Portal (Lutheran)
- More Light Presbyterians
- Reconciling Ministries Network
- Soulforce
State
Podcasts, videos, and blogs
Where to sing!
We invite you to join the movement!
Follow us on social media, join our mailing list, or fill out the interest survey to tell us more about yourself.
