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

• a circle where persons called to gospel ministry can find support to discern leadings of the Spirit;
• an organizational vehicle that promotes gospel practices of mutual aid, reconciliation, Sabbath economics, nonviolence and social justice;

·         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.

BCM currently has four staff members working in three 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. Matthew Colwell is a Presbyterian pastor who works as a program partner with BCM, ministering through individual discipleship, community building, preaching, teaching, and building technological support for non-traditional gospel ministries.
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. She also works currently as BCM’s Administrative Coordinator.
3. Moving Money for Social Change: Peg Rosenkrands, a Presbyterian/Episcopalian, works with small faith based non profit groups on sustainable fundraising strategies, with groups and individuals on strategic investing and giving, and coordinates the Bartimaeus Covenant Investor Community.