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CENTER AND LIBRARY FOR THE BIBLE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE INC
STONY POINT, NY · EIN 271506168 · Form 990EZ · FY2024 · NTEE X03 · Religion-Related · Micro (<$100K) · clbsj.org
revenue
$74K
expenses
$77K
net assets
$3
employees
—
mission · from form 990

THE CENTER AND LIBRARY FOR THE BIBLE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE IS A MEDIA AND ORGANIZING HUB THAT LINKS BIBLICAL SCHOLARSHIP WITH OUR MOVEMENTS FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE. WE WEAVE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN SCRIPTURALLY INFORMED SCHOLARS, STUDENTS, CLERGY, ACTIVISTS, ARTISTS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS WHO OFTEN WORK SEPARATELY AND WITHOUT THE RICH RESOURCES AND INSIGHTS THEY ARE CAPABLE OF OFFERING ONE ANOTHER. WE DO THIS BY PROVIDING RESOURCES INCLUDING BOOKS, PERIODICALS, ARCHIVES AND ELECTRONIC MATERIALS AND BY CURATING ONLINE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING ON TOPICS AND PROBLEMS CENTRAL TO FURTHERING THE CRITICAL STUDY OF THE BIBLE AND OTHER SACRED TEXTS AND EMPOWERING LIBERATORY ENGAGEMENT WITH THE SCRIPTURE IN MOVEMENTS FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE. WE AIM TO CREATE A SYNERGY OF THEORY AND PRACTICE IN A DYNAMIC ACTION-REFLECTION CLIMATE THAT RENDERS JUSTICE-ORIENTED BIBLICAL SCHOLARSHIP AS EXCITING AND ACCESSIBLE TO SPECIALIST AND LAY AUDIENCES ALIKE.

profile · synthesized from sources

The Center and Library for the Bible and Social Justice (CLBSJ) is a media and organizing hub that connects biblical scholarship with social justice movements. It serves scholars, students, clergy, activists, and community organizers by providing access to a specialized library collection and curating online educational programming. The organization fosters dialogue between scripturally informed academics and justice practitioners through events, workshops, and collaborative initiatives focused on liberatory interpretations of sacred texts.

named programs · 5 · from sources

What they call their work

Bible "Detox"
Educational series that challenges traditional, oppressive readings of biblical texts and promotes liberative interpretations aligned with social justice values
Black August Series
Annual event series exploring the intersections of Black religion, liberation, and biblical interpretation, featuring scholars and activists from diverse faith backgrounds
Contextual Bible Study (CBS)
Methodology and program promoting prophetic, liberation-focused Bible reading through cycles of action and reflection within oppressed communities
Scholar-Activist Encounters
Roundtable discussions that bring together biblical scholars and social justice activists to explore scripture through marginalized perspectives and discuss implications for justice movements
Wisdom Circle at SBL/AAR
Gathering during the Society of Biblical Literature and American Academy of Religion annual meetings to connect scholars and activists around justice-oriented biblical scholarship
activities · 5 groups

What they do

  • Interfaith and Spiritual Dialogue Programs 2 activities
    • Centers marginalized voices in biblical interpretation and challenges misuse of scripture
      Actively promotes the work of BIPOC biblical interpreters and produces programming and resources that read sacred texts alongside banned books, art, film, news, and testimonies of resistance, particularly through its participatory biblical engagement project. This includes co-hosting discussions that center invisibilized perspectives in scriptural interpretation.
    • Hosts online and in-person educational events connecting biblical scholarship with social justice
      Organizes participatory online and live events, including roundtable discussions, scholar-activist encounters, and sessions at academic conferences, that bring together biblical scholars and social justice activists to explore sacred texts in the context of resistance, marginalization, and activism. Events have included collaborations with the Alternative Seminary, Democratic Socialists of America, and presentations at AAR/SBL Annual Meetings.
  • Library Book Donation Management 1 activity
    • Manages library collection development and deaccessioning according to mission-aligned guidelines
      Collects materials related to the Bible and social justice, accepts duplicate book donations, transfers non-reference duplicates to satellite locations, and deaccessions outdated or mission-incompatible materials following CREW library deaccessioning guidelines.
  • Religious Media Production and Distribution 1 activity
    • Produces educational resources to support biblical engagement and social justice study
      Creates and distributes study guides, finding aids, and digital archives to support focused study and community engagement with biblical texts and social justice themes. These resources are designed to complement the organization’s book series, event programming, and library collection.
  • Specialized Research Library Access 1 activity
    • Stewards a physical and digital library collection for biblical and social justice scholarship
      Maintains a curated collection of books, periodicals, archives, and electronic materials in biblical studies, theology, social ethics, and social justice, accessible to researchers and community members regardless of institutional or religious affiliation. The collection includes incorporated archives from prominent biblical scholars and activist groups and is accessible by appointment, with holdings listed online via LibraryThing.
  • Uncategorized 1 activity
    • Compiles research resources on the intersection of Bible and social justice
      Conducted and published a list of the top 100 books on the Bible and social justice in 2011, serving as a curated research tool for scholars and activists in the field.
financials · form 990EZ · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$74K
Contributions & grants$74K100%
Program service revenue$310%
Investment income——
Other revenue—
expenses
Total expenses$77K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$39K
Grants paid out—
balance sheet
Total assets$712
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$3
3 years on record · 2021–2024 · YoY revenue -4.4%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
AMY DALTON EXECUTIVE DI 26 $35K
board members · 8
  • DR GALE YEE — BOARD MEMBER
  • DR LUDWIG NOYA — BOARD MEMBER
  • REV CASS SHAW — BOARD TREASU
  • REV DR DONG HYEON JEONG — BOARD CO-SEC
  • REV DR ERIC A THOMAS — BOARD MEMBER
  • REV ELIZABETH SIMPSON — BOARD CO- SE
  • REV LAURA GOTTWALD — BOARD MEMBER
  • REV NICHOLAS JOHNSON — PRES & BOARD
relationships · 17

Who they work with

  • Alternative Seminary Partner — Collaborated with CLBSJ to host a roundtable discussion on Mark 5:1-20.
  • Bartimaeus Cooperative Ministries Partner — Collaborates on reimagining the relationship between scripture and social justice to build communities of discipleship and justice.
  • Christian Peacemaker Teams Partner — Donated a collection to the library.
  • DataCenter Partner — Partners with an independent research organization that supports social justice movements and grassroots organizing.
  • Interfaith Institute for Justice, Peace and Social Movements Partner — Collaborates on education events exploring the intersection of faith traditions and progressive social change.
  • KAIROS Partner — Works with a coalition of Canadian churches focused on ecological justice, human rights, and reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.
  • Muslim Peace Fellowship Partner — Donated a collection to the library.
  • Newark School of Theology Partner — Partners with an ecumenical and interfaith institution offering advanced theological education outside traditional ministerial training frameworks.
  • Not specified Partner — Collaborates with biblical scholars, social justice activists, students, organizers, faith leaders, and artists in its programs and events.
  • Penguin Theatre Partner — Shares a driveway with CLBSJ at the Stony Point Center campus.
  • Religion and Socialism Working Group of the Democratic Socialists of America Partner — Co-hosted a Scholar-Activist Encounter with CLBSJ featuring Rabbi Michael Feinberg and Dr. Norman Gottwald.
  • Stony Point Center Partner — Hosts CLBSJ's primary library collection at its retreat and conference facility.
  • Stony Point Center Partner — Shares campus space with CLBSJ at 5 Cricketown Road, Stony Point, NY.
  • Stony Point Center Partner — Works with a multifaith center committed to radical hospitality, peace, and justice through inclusive community spaces.
  • The People's Seminary Partner — Collaborates with a learning center focused on scripture study rooted in solidarity with people on the margins.
  • Unbound Partner — Partners with an online journal and community that explores Christian social justice through conversation, action, and community building.
  • Word and World Partner — Collaborates on radical education and training for Christian disciples engaged in faith-based social transformation.
strategies · 3

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Action-Reflection Integration
    methodology: action-reflection
    By cycling between practical justice work and scholarly reflection, the organization deepens both the effectiveness of activism and the relevance of biblical scholarship, because sustained change requires mutual learning between theory and practice.
  • Contextual Biblical Interpretation for Liberation
    methodology: contextual-bible-study
    By interpreting scripture through lived experience and dialogue with marginalized perspectives, the organization produces liberative readings that challenge oppressive structures, because meaning emerges from the intersection of text and context.
  • Interdisciplinary Integration of Scholarship and Activism
    methodology: interdisciplinary-integration
    By connecting scholars, activists, faith leaders, and artists across fields, the organization generates richer biblical and social justice praxis, because diverse epistemologies strengthen both analysis and action.