Bartimaeus…

In the story of the poor man Bartimaeus (Mark 10:46-52), Mark’s gospel gives us an archetypal portrait of the journey from “blindness” to faith (relief sculpture left by Charles McCollough). We believe that Christians should stand for compassion   and equity, and against all forms of oppression and violence in these difficult times. To do this we must face our personal and political blindness to the realities of human suffering, as well as to God’s horizons of justice. We are a group of believers committed to revisioning the relationship between the Word and our world, in order to help animate and build capacity for communities of discipleship and justice.

…Cooperative…

Bartimaeus Cooperative Ministries (BCM) was founded in 1998 as an ecumenical experiment in discipleship and mutual aid. We offer:

• t a circle where persons called to gospel ministry can find support to discern leadings of the Spirit;
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• t a non profit organizational vehicle that promotes gospel practices of mutual aid, restorative justice, Sabbath economics, nonviolence and social change;
 
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• t an umbrella structure that facilitates capacity-building among people of faith committed to the work of peace and justice organizing, church renewal and wholistic discipleship.
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…Ministries.
 

BCM currently has two staff members working in two primary project areas:

1. Theological Animation: Ched Myers, an ecumenical activist, travels widely in an evangelistic ministry of teaching, writing and organizing, in order to help nurture faith-based movements working for peace, justice and radical discipleship.

2. Restorative Justice: Elaine Enns, a Mennonite, is a mediator, educator and trainer in conflict transformation and restorative justice, providing services for victims and offenders, churches and organizations.

BCM staff work with groups in southern California and around North America, including with two national collaborative ventures:

1. the Word and World School for faith-based activists; and

2. the Sabbath Economics Collaborative, a circle of theologians, educators and activists working for economic justice.

BCM is governed by a board which meets bi-monthly, chaired by Rick Kidd. We are incorporated as a registered 501C(3) non-profit organization in California. BCM’s office is located in Oak View, California. We are helped by two Communications contract consultants, Jason Jenkins and Tim Nafziger.