Martin Luther King Jr. was a Baptist minister and civil rights leader who embodied the journey toward Becoming Beloved Community. He identified social ills, including racism, in the United States and how hurtful they were to so very many (telling the truth). He declared a dream for our country: ”I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character (proclaiming the dream).” His message was a message of love, to care for the common good, for non-violence (practicing the way). He advocated for public policy that increased the rights of African Americans and others (Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965) (repairing the breach).
Martin Luther King, Jr. described the Beloved Community as a society where “caring and compassion drive political policies that support the worldwide elimination of poverty and hunger, and all forms of bigotry and violence. At its core, the “Beloved Community” is an engine of reconciliation.” (Source: The KingCenter.org)
With Dr. King’s leadership and the support of so many others at that time and since then, our country has made great progress toward justice and equality. Even so, there is still much to be done.
In the Episcopal Church, we are guided by the vision of Becoming Beloved Community, our church’s long-term commitment to racial justice, healing and reconciliation. We’re all on a lifelong journey toward God’s dream, taking intentional and faithful steps as if moving through a labyrinth.
WALK THE BECOMING BELOVED COMMUNITY LABYRINTH
We organize our ministries around the four quadrants of the Becoming Beloved Community labyrinth. Each of these four commitments is necessary to dismantle and heal White supremacy within us, our churches, our communities and society at large.
● Truth-telling:Telling the Truth about Our Churches and Race
● Proclamation: Proclaiming the Dream of Beloved Community
● Formation: Practicing Jesus’ Way of Healing Love
● Justice: Repairing the Breach in Society and Institutions
(Source: https://www.episcopalchurch.org/ministries/racial-reconciliation/)
As followers of Jesus, we are called to love our neighbors as ourselves and to strive for justice and peace. (Episcopal Baptismal Covenant)
On the anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King’s birthday, we are invited to recommit to the journey of the labyrinth, to build the Beloved Community.
For more information about the Episcopal Diocese of Northern California efforts to build the Beloved Community, please reach out to norcalcim@gmail.com.
Miriam Casey, Co-Chair
Commission for Intercultural Ministries
