Oikonomia Network

In a rapidly changing, globalized economy, how can we help people keep their daily lives rooted in the stability of God’s reality? In this insightful new video, Deborah Gill of Assemblies of God Theological Seminary interviews two leaders who are on the forefront of developing responses to that question: Lisa Slayton of Tamim Partners and […]

Note: This is an excerpt from the author’s book Exiles on Mission: How Christians Can Thrive in a Post-Christian World. Paul Williams will be a featured speaker at Karam Forum 2021, taking place in Los Angeles on Jan. 5-6, alongside Mark Labberton, Darrell Bock and many more. Much of the contemporary church’s loss of confidence […]

Note: Paul Williams will be a featured speaker at Karam Forum 2021, taking place in Los Angeles on Jan. 5-6, alongside Mark Labberton, Darrell Bock and many more. This article has been adapted from our original newsletter coverage of his address at an Oikonomia Network event. Paul Williams, now the head of the Bible Society […]

How does the Christian doctrine of the Trinity intersect with the reality of our day-to-day work? This doctrine has been a foundational conviction of Christian orthodoxy throughout church history. The eternally-existent, loving community of the Triune God is the wellspring from which Christians embody the abundant life of God in the world. But what does […]

Note: This article spotlights the work of Paul Anderson, an individual faculty partner in the Oikonomia Network. He delivered this address as the 1985 Quaker Lecture, Western Yearly Meeting. See original text for full citations. Part Two of Two; read part one here. What does it mean to receive a holy calling? It means first […]

Being the church means bringing life to the world, but how do we help our students lead churches that do that? In this stimulating new talk, Oikonomia Network Director Greg Forster argues that “economic life is the most powerful way to bring life to the world,” because “the economy is where people mostly live.” Drawing […]

When the church is divided by ethnic separation and political polarization, the kingdom of God is revealed less fully to our neighbors, and has a gravely diminished impact on communities. Sadly, our neighbors today are less likely to see the church either as an authentic spiritual body or as a positive social force – and […]

Reprinted from Made to Flourish. My friend Jason crowned me “Queen of the Side Hustle.” From the day we met, I had some sort of part-time, freelance work going on the side of being a student or a stay-at-home mom. Now, nearly a decade later, I’ve had to renounce my throne. “Queen of the Side […]

We inhabit a lonely, anxious culture bent on pursuing instant and constant gratification at nearly any cost. In this context, what does a truly flourishing life look like? What are the conditions necessary for cultivating a flourishing life? And what are the spiritual disciplines and habits of the heart that refine within individuals the capacities […]

I’m grateful to write this month’s seminary spotlight on behalf of The Commonweal Project at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. I benefited from The Commonweal Project as a new student at Southern, grew with it through my MDiv, and now, get to serve it as its managing fellow.  I started at Southern in fall of 2014, […]

Note: This article spotlights the work of Paul Anderson, an individual faculty partner in the Oikonomia Network. He delivered this address as the 1985 Quaker Lecture, Western Yearly Meeting. See original text for full citations. Part One of Two The Revelation of John is actually a record of the revelation of Jesus Christ. This gripping […]

Karam Forum 2020 was a landmark. If pastors see themselves as CEOs, the call to justice and vocation – which rocks our placid organizational boats – will feel like a threat. But if pastors are shepherds, they can see that the call to justice and discipleship is essential to the flourishing of the flock. Discipling […]

At Karam Forum 2020 in Atlanta, the Oikonomia Network presented its new 2019 Impact Report. This document introduces the mission and vision of the network, with an overview of who our partners are and what we’re doing; provides testimonies and statistics on the scope of our impact; and previews our needs and opportunities for the years […]

Reprinted from Made to Flourish. What’s your measure for success at work? Somewhere in the back of my mind I carry around a little scorecard for success at work. “How was your day today?” my husband will ask me over dinner. To answer his question, I take out my little mental scorecard and review how […]