Beloved Conversations

Beloved Conversations has gone online!
All of the information about participating is here.
What is it about?
- Beloved Conversations is an experiential curriculum that provides a space to re-form the brokenness of racism into new patterns of thought and behavior ushering in social and spiritual healing. New ways of being are learned through the actions of conversation and probing dialogue.
- Designed by UUs for UUs. The curriculum was created by Dr. Mark Hicks, a professor of Religious Education at Meadville Lombard Theological School, our UU seminary in Chicago. He holds a doctorate degree in Philosophy and Education and a Master’s degree in Adult Education from Columbia University (NYC).
- Since 2010, more than 100 UU congregations have been participated in the Beloved Conversations curriculum, which is now in its third iteration as part of an ongoing process of revision.
Testimonies
- One of the most beautiful aspects of Beloved Conversations was seeing its transformative potential come to bear…. I was moved to my core witnessing Unitarian Universalism come alive to members of my congregation. Rev. Manish Mizra-Marzetti, Senior Minister, UU Congregation at Cherry Hill
- “Many [participants] said that this was the first time, or the first time in a long time, when they had been part of a conversation about race that left them hopeful. Out of these conversations, we are beginning to shape a way forward to address and ‘interrupt’ racism is all its forms: institutional, cultural, and individual.” Rev. Kate Lore, Minister for Social Justice, First Unitarian Church, Portland, OR
- I watched as people struggled with concepts of privilege, institutional racism and stereotyping in ways they hadn’t until that point. More importantly, I witnessed most staying fully engaged despite that struggle. Jennifer Kelleher, Intern Minister, UU Congregation at Cherry Hill