The kind of market capitalism practiced in the United States and imposed upon much of the developing world is based on a series of assumptions-such as self-interest, distribution according to wealth, and others-that are diametrically opposed to the Good News of the Gospel. We tend, however, not to expect morality of economics … in large part because the "experts" have presented these assumptions as "just the way things are." These assumptions, however, lead inevitably to destructive consequences-environmental disaster, poverty and inequality, increasing unhappiness even among the affluent, resource depletion, and others-but we feel helpless to oppose it.

In fact, however, the assumptions of market economics are value choices that we could make differently.

In fact, there are hundreds of thousands of organizations, large and small, around the world that are challenging the domination consciousness that supports the economic system as it is. Why haven't we heard of this movement? How can we join it?
How could we choose differently? What are the changes in government, corporate structure, economic principles, and general spiritual consciousness that might save us from what looks now to be a calamitous future? Where do we find our hope? How is Christian community relevant to a new consciousness that might lead to a healthy economics? What are the practical steps we might begin to take? And what's the role of our faith?

David Hilfiker MD was trained as a Family Practitioner and spent seven years in a rural Minnesota clinic as a “country doctor” and ten years in at Community of Hope Health Services, an inner-city clinic in Washington DC. He and his family lived for five years at Christ House, a 34-bed medical recovery shelter for homeless men that he helped to found. In 1990, he left Christ House to found Joseph’s House, an eleven-bed home and community for formerly homeless men with AIDS, in Washington, where he and his family lived until 1993. No longer in active medical practice, he is currently the Finance Director for Joseph’s House and works toward the creation of a just society through his writing and speaking. In December 2002 and January 2003, he spent time in Iraq and has since written and lectured abou the invasion of that country.

Dr Hilfiker is the author of Healing the Wounds (Pantheon 1985) and Not All of Us Are Saints (Hill & Wang 1994) as well as numerous articles, many dealing with the medical care of the poor. His latest book, Urban Injustice: How Ghettos Happen was published in September 2002 by Seven Stories Press.

He and his wife Marja have three grown children. He is an avid bicyclist and backpacker. He practices daily yoga and meditation.

To read some of his writings please go to David's website at: www.davidhilfiker.com

Ann Moczydlowski is an Episcopal Priest from the Diocese of Washington, DC, a member of the Wellspring Mission Group and a friend of Thea Bowman Preparatory Academy PCS in NE Washington. She lives in Silver Spring, MD with her husband, Bill, and two young adult children. Ann practices daily meditation, enjoys gardening and is passionate about the church as a force for justice, wholeness and loving kindness in our world.

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