Our Money Story – Release: Perspectives FUMCSD Pastors Podcast (S3E8) (Audio)

Rev. Hannah and Rev. Brittany are back in the Video Studio continuing their discussion on money, the church, and what it means for modern Christians. This time, they’re talking about the concept of helping community members by opening our hands and hearts and releasing debts, providing financial freedom and relief to others. It’s a conversation they’ve titled: Our Money Story – Release.

The two female pastors are inspired by Deuteronomy 15 and God’s vision of releasing debts, providing rest, and granting freedom every seventh year. Through the biblical passage, they notice it’s a story of abundance, acknowledging that as a church community, we’ll always have more than enough, so there is no need for an inward focus of hoarding personal assets instead of having an external focus of communal support and prosperity.

They describe it in this straightforward way of thinking: If you have, you give. The women clergy of First United Methodist Church of San Diego also use this digital Bible Study to discuss:

• The shifting definition of Sabbath from the nomadic times of Exodus to the agricultural community of Deuteronomy.
• The coexistence of personal economy and communal economy.
• God isn’t calling for charity; they’re local for a system that doesn’t allow for deep debt with no hope of financial freedom.
• The difference between the rhythm of grace and the rhythm of greed.

There are a lot of concepts packed into this short conversation, so we encourage you to engage with others as you uncover your thoughts about financial release. You can do so through our in-person Convergence group or joining our online community at patreon.com/fumcsd.

Here are the discussion questions for this episode:

1. What would “release” look like in our world today? 
2. What would it mean to stop the relentless cycle of debt — emotional, financial, spiritual — that keeps people captive? 
3. What could we let go of to create space for everyone’s wellbeing in the community? 

Our Patreon community is open to all – no matter where you align in your spiritual beliefs. It’s free to join and connect over the weekly episode questions. There is also an optional paid membership that unlocks additional content. Check it out at https://www.patreon.com/fumcsd!