The Jubilee account of the Global Church Sharing Fund
Inspired by the biblical teaching of “Jubilee” (in Leviticus 25, for example), Mennonite World Conference set up the Global Church Sharing Fund. The aim is to put into action the Apostle Paul’s words to the Corinthians:
“There is no question of relieving others at the cost of hardship to yourselves; it is a question of equality. At the moment your surplus meets their need, but one day your need may be met from their surplus. The aim is equality; as scripture has it, ‘Those who gathered more did not have too much, and those who gathered less did not have too little’” (2 Corinthians 8:13–15).
Sadly, economic disparity accompanies our diverse global Anabaptist-Mennonite family.
Most of our members in our worldwide family of faith are in the Global South (Africa 52%, Asia 24%, Latin America 7%). Yet much of our monetary wealth remains in the hands of North Americans and Europeans (15% and 1% of MWC membership, respectively).
Through the Jubilee account of the Global Church Sharing Fund, MWC member and associate member churches in Africa, Asia and Latin America/Caribbean may receive a grant of up to $10 000 USD for ministries that advance the life and mission of their churches.
Those who receive the gift have the power to determine how it will further God’s mission in their circumstances.
MWC staff administers the fund and monitors its use under the supervision of the MWC Executive Committee, which is accountable to the MWC General Council.
Download application & reporting forms
The churches of the Global South have so far used Global Church Sharing funds in a great variety of ways, including:
- translation and publication of materials;
- scholarships for students;
- upgrading computer systems;
- church supplies;
- bicycles for evangelists;
- vehicles for church supervision and administration;
- evangelism and leadership training;
- construction and repair of church facilities;
- promotion of Anabaptist identity and belonging.
The fund has also been used for supporting the churches with relief actions when there is a natural disaster in their region.
From 2020-2021, member churches received grants from the COVID-19 response fund, overseen by MWC in collaboration with more than a dozen Anabaptist-Mennonite mission and service agencies.
Share
You can give to the Global Church Sharing Fund by donating to MWC. Be sure to designate your donation for Global Church Sharing Fund.
“Sharing creates abundance because there is no alienation involved. When I truly share my gifts I am not losing anything; instead I am extending myself, my gifts, toward another person, and in the process I am becoming a part of empowering that person’s own gifts.” Sharing Gifts in the Global Family of Faith by Pakisa K. Tshimika and Tim Lind
The Global Church Sharing Fund is made up of 4 accounts: general (reserve), Deacons, Jubilee, Carbon Offset.
Learn more about the accounts of the Global Church Sharing Fund in the Reference Notebook, Document 8.2.3.
MWC represents 109 national churches with 1.47 million members. These sisters and brothers share many gifts, renewing the life of the global church while extending God’s kingdom.