Two years ago, the UUSM Board of Directors authorized our congregation’s Intersectional Anti-Racism and Anti-Oppression Commission to begin laying the foundation for us to more effectively engage with this critical work. Our first programmatic offering is a series called Beloved Conversations. This faith-formation, anti-racism program offered by Meadville Lombard Theological School, the Unitarian Universalist seminary in Chicago, included more than 1,200 virtual learners in the first phase in 2020. In 2021, about 30 people from our congregation participated, many for more than one session.
Rev. Jeremiah notes: “In Beloved Conversations, we work to heal the impact of racism on our lives in order to get free together. Beloved Conversations is the signature offering of The Fahs Collaborative at Meadville Lombard Theological School — an opportunity for Unitarian Universalists seeking to embody racial justice as a spiritual practice. This amazing program is a chance to connect virtually with UUs from across the continent.”
The deadline to sign up for the spring semester of Beloved Conversations is next week, Tuesday, February 22nd. This is for one of four phases, called “Within,” and the meetings are scheduled from March to May. You can learn more about the program on their website or by attending our one-hour meeting:
Beloved Conversations Informational Session (Zoom)
Thursday, February 17, 2022, 6 pm
Come and learn more about the program from participants in our congregation and have a chance to ask any burning questions. Please email the church office at admin@uusm.org to be added to the participants’ list and/or to receive a link to our informational session now so you can join in this virtual gathering.
Program participants will meet online monthly for large group worship and discussion — with lessons published every two weeks — as well as in biweekly small-group check-ins. Partial and full scholarships for the program are available from both the Beloved Conversations team and from UUSM. Please contact Beloved Conversations through their website (which is where you register) and the church office for more information.
Additional information about the sessions offered during 2021 is available on our website: last spring and last fall. And our own Cheryl Barnett’s comments about the spring program are here.
