Beloved Community

Beloved Community

 

"Our goal is to create a beloved community and this will require a qualitative change in our souls as well as a quantitative change in our lives." ~ Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 

Our MISSION at The Beloved Community is to gather as a Biblically faithful diverse group to inspire our church and the local community to embrace the values of respect, justice, and dignity for all.

Our VISION is to create safe spaces for courageous conversations (knowing), to embody this community with the church (being), and to engage our neighbors in the work (doing).

Our DREAM is to shine the light of God’s extraordinary love, inclusive spirit, and reconciling grace for all to see.

These are the established seven priorities of the committee:

  1. We want Suntree UMC to be known as a safe space. 
  2. We want to see diversity in Leadership and Membership. 
  3. We want to engage in partnership with Diverse Churches. 
  4. We want there to be more robustness in the congregation, especially around hard conversations about diversity. 
  5. We want to work within advocacy and justice priorities in our values. 
  6. We strive to be unapologetic in identity, with space for ideological “compatibility” in diversity. 
  7. We strive for alignment of staff and resources to commit to reconciliation initiatives at all levels of ministry. 

The Beloved Community Committee periodically hosts events and produces materials throughout the year to help educate and cultivate a culture of diversity and inclusivity. 

Prior events include:
 - Film screenings and discussions highlighting diverse perspectives and social justice issues
 - Hosting the Bethune-Cookman University International Choir Mental Health Task Force/Fair
 - Beloved Community 101 class
 - Biblical Justice class
 - Cocoa Champions mentoring initiative
 - Conversations about the U.S. Constitution, Washington’s Farewell Address, Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address, and      Frederick Douglass’ speech, ‘The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro’
- Prayer vigils in support of contemporary issues

Want to know more or want to get involved? Contact Pastor Bailey at:

Upcoming Events:

Join us on Sunday, November 8th at 12pm in the Dining Room for a free viewing of the movie: BrainStorm. BrainStorm follows six compelling people living with bipolar in their journey from devastation to recovery. After the film there will be a discussion with Bipolar General Gregg Martin and his son.