The Living Church

Year Article Type Limit by Author

The Living ChurchDecember 10, 2000'This Is Jubilee' 221(24) p. 12

For the most part, the idea of jubilee has had little impact on the church with the exception of the Diocese of Quincy.


We are hearing much about jubilee these days. Presiding Bishop Frank T. Griswold has been talking about it since long before General Convention, and diocesan conventions this fall have picked up on the idea, using it for themes, presentations and workshops. The concept of jubilee is biblical (Leviticus 25) and refers to a year occurring every 50 years in which Jewish slaves regained their freedom and land returned to its former owners. For the most part, the idea of jubilee has had little impact on the church with the exception of the Diocese of Quincy [TLC, Dec. 3]. Its bishop, the Rt. Rev. Keith Ackerman, showed its diocesan synod (convention) what jubilee is all about by summoning members of seven congregations which owed money to the diocese and informing them that their debts were forgiven. "This," as Bishop Ackerman said, "is jubilee." He and the Diocese of Quincy have done the rest of the church a service by their example.