A First Look: The Oikonomia Ministry

Oikonomia Tou Theou
(Economy of God)

Introduction, Purpose, Plan, Action
October 25, 2011
7:30pm -9:00pm
Congregational Church of South Hempstead

The Congregational Church of South Hempstead
United Church of Christ
416 Woodland Drive, South Hempstead, NY 11550

516-489-3610
theccsh.org

Rev. Patrick G. Duggan, Pastor

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The Oikonomia Ministry
Session Format
Welcome & Introductions 7:35pm

Opening Prayer 7:42pm

Ten-Minute Bible Study & Prayer 7:44pm

Instruction 7:54pm

Questions/Dialogue 8:35pm

Next Meeting/Assignment 8:55pm

Closing Prayer 8:57 pm

Adjourn 8:59pm

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Welcome & Introductions

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Opening Prayer

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Ten-Minute Bible Study

The Feeding of the Five Thousand
Matthew 14:13-15
13Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a
deserted place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they
followed him on foot from the towns. 14When he went ashore, he saw
a great crowd; and he had compassion for them and cured their
sick. 15When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This
is a deserted place, and the hour is now late; send the crowds away so
that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.”

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Ten-Minute Bible Study The Oikonomia Ministry

Matthew 14:16-21
16Jesus said to them, “They need not go away; you give them
something to eat.” 17They replied, “We have nothing here but five
loaves and two fish.” 18And he said, “Bring them here to me.” 19Then
he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves
and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the
loaves, and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to
the crowds. 20And all ate and were filled; and they took up what was
left over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full. 21And those who
ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.
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Ten-Minute Bible Study

Matthew 14:13-21

What do you observe about the organization, size, popularity/interest in
Jesus ministry?

What was the disciples’ role in Jesus ministry?

Talk about the vision, goals, objectives of Jesus ministry. Did Jesus’ ministry
have revenue and expenses?

Explain the rift between Jesus and the disciples on how to 5,000 – 20,000
people?

How does this passage reflect the economy of God?

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OIKONOMIA TOU THEOU
ECONOMY OF GOD

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OIKONOMIA
OY – KO – NO – MEE - AH
Or you can say:

The “O” Ministry
or just

“OM”
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OIKONOMIA
OY – KO – NO – MEE - AH
Why such a weird name?
To create an opportunity for dialogue
about the economy of God.

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The Congregational Church of South Hempstead intends to embody God’s
economic order through the work of a new ministry, Oikonomia Tou Theo – The
Economy of God. The mission of Oikonomia is to launch sustainable social
enterprises that advance the Good News of Jesus Christ. Oikonomia will
create meaningful jobs at living wages, generate wealth that re-circulates
locally and regionally, improve both the natural and built environments, and
strengthen the bonds of community. Through good work and good works
Oikonomia will spread the love and hospitality of the CCSH faith community to
transform scarcity and despair into abundance. Like the leaven that Jesus talks
about in the parables, Oikonomia will establish God’s economy _literally God’s laws
of the household _ in a local area, with the expressed intent of seeding
transformation far beyond South Hempstead.
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What is sustainable
a social enterprise that advances the Good News of Jesus Christ ?
Sustainable , or sustainability means:
•Economic Development
•Environmental Health
•Social Equity
If any enterprise has all that, it should go on forever…

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What is a sustainable social enterprise that advances the Good News of Jesus Christ ?

As early as 1996 The Roberts Foundation Homeless Economic
Development Fund defined social enterprise as "a revenue
generating venture founded to create economic opportunities for
very low income individuals, while simultaneously operating with
reference to the financial bottom-line.”

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What is a sustainable social enterprise that advances the Good News of Jesus Christ ?

A social enterprise is any business venture created for a social
purpose--mitigating/reducing a social problem or a market failure--
and to generate social value while operating with the financial
discipline, innovation and determination of a private sector
business. Virtue Ventures

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Social Enterprise Examples

CCSH http://theccsh.org

Abundant Communities Together www.actogether.net

Salvation Army Thrift Stores
http://www.use.salvationarmy.org/use/www_use.nsf

Samasource http://samasource.org/

Growing Home www.growinghome.org

Open Books www.openbooks.org

Sweet Miss Givings www.sweetmissvivings.com
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What is a sustainable social enterprise that advances the Good News of Jesus
Christ?
John 3:16
“For God so loved the world that he gave his
only Son, so that everyone who believes in him
may not perish but may have eternal life.”

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Christ?
Matthew 25:35-36
“..for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and
you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you
welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was
sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited
me.’”

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Christ?
Luke 4:18-19
18“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed
me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to
proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to
the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the
year of the Lord’s favor.”

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Christ?
Matthew 28:19-20
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing
them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy
Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have
commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the
end of the age.”

20


What is a sustainable social enterprise that
advances the Good News of Jesus Christ?

The work of
The Oikonomia Ministry!

21


The Congregational Church of South Hempstead intends to embody God’s
economic order through the work of a new ministry, Oikonomia Tou Theo – The
Economy of God. The mission of Oikonomia is to launch sustainable social
enterprises that advance the Good News of Jesus Christ. Oikonomia will
create meaningful jobs at living wages, generate wealth that re-circulates
locally and regionally, improve both the natural and built environments, and
strengthen the bonds of community. Through good work and good works
Oikonomia will spread the love and hospitality of the CCSH faith community to
transform scarcity and despair into abundance. Like the leaven that Jesus talks
about in the parables, Oikonomia will establish God’s economy _literally God’s laws
of the household _ in a local area, with the expressed intent of seeding
transformation far beyond South Hempstead.
22


Oikonomia social enterprises will:
“[Mitigate]/[reduce] a social problem or a market
failure—and… generate social value while
operating with the financial discipline,
innovation and determination of a private sector
business.

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The “social value” of Oikonomia social
enterprises will be to demonstrate the love of
God through Jesus Christ by advancing one or
several dimensions of the gospel toward the end of
eliminating poverty in society(with metrics to
demonstrate results).
•Help to those who need food, water, clothing, health, or in prison
•Share Good News, eliminate debt
•Make disciples 24


Oikonomia social enterprises will be sustainable,
i.e., they must promote investment & create jobs,
benefit the environment, and reduce the ranks of the
99% (with metrics to demonstrate results). They must
generate sufficient revenue to sustain operations.

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Oikonomia social enterprises will be initiatives
of the church or independently owned.

•If a part of the church: 100% revenue to CCSH,
compensation to team members, with signed
covenant to abide by Oikonomia principles.

•If independently owned, 100% revenue to owner(s)
with a signed covenant to abide by Oikonomia
principles and tithe (10% or more) profits to CCSH.
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Oikonomia social enterprises will consist of no less than
3 enterprise team members (no sole proprietorships). At
least 30%-40% of the persons on enterprise teams must
be CCSH members in good standing.

All enterprise team members must have:
• Daily access to a computer with internet access
•An email address
•A mobile phone
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Proposed Oikonomia Social Enterprises (&Ideas)

•Word OUT! (Sermon CDs)
•Long Island HomeGrown
•COE Community Outreach Enterprises
•Wedding/Event Planning/Hosting
•Shea Butter (All Natural Hand & Body Creams)
•Equal Exchange
•Streaming Live Conferences
•Your ideas?????
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The Way Forward

2011
October – November
Study, Recruit, Survey

November - December
Study, Recruit, Survey, Build
2012
January - March
Study, Recruit, Survey, Build, Plan

April - May
Study, Recruit, Survey, Build, Plan, Invest

May - June
Study, Recruit, Survey, Build, Plan, Invest, Launch, Celebrate!!

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The Way Forward
•Study: Biblical sources, theology of God’s Economy, economics, business,
finance
•Recruit: Enterprise team partners of 3-10 persons, initially.
•Survey: At least three social enterprise, visiting and meeting leaders of at
least two.
•Build: Your enterprise team.
•Plan: Prior to launch, all OMSEs must have at a minimum, a vision
statement, a mission statement, a goal(s), a two-year strategic plan
[objectives, strategies, tactics], and a simplified three-year business plan.
•Invest: Three-year business plans must include the $ amount of the
initial investment required to launch the OMSE , how the enterprise team
will raise the initial investment.
•Launch: Enterprise Teams will launch their social enterprises
•Celebrate: A community-wide celebration (and marketing event)
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Questions/Dialogue

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Proposed Next Meeting:
Tuesday November 29th, 7:30pm

Assignment:
Study: Biblical sources, theology of God’s Economy,
economics, business, finance

Recruit: Enterprise team partners of 3-10 persons, initially.

Survey: At least three social enterprise, visiting and meeting
leaders of at least two.

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Closing Prayer

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A First Look: The Oikonomia Ministry

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