MACON — Mercer University’s Beloved Community Initiative is holding its 19th annual Building the Beloved Community Symposium on faith and racial justice on Oct. 15 and 16, featuring a full slate of free events and meals that are open to the public.
“This symposium has two important goals. For people of faith, it reminds us of God’s desire for justice and reconciliation and equips us to do God’s work in this community,” explained Dr. Matt Harper, co-convener of the Beloved Community Initiative and associate professor of history and Africana studies. “For those in our community who are more skeptical about faith, the symposium highlights the unique resources that faith traditions can offer to the struggle for justice and reconciliation.”
Christina Edmondson, psychologist and NAACP Image Award finalist, will speak on “Lies Christians Love and How Love Can Set Them Free.” She will offer a frank assessment of how helpful or harmful American Christians are to the struggle for racial justice, with data from a national sociological survey; why that may be so, with insights from social psychology; and what resources faith traditions can offer to those who care about justice, including secular individuals.
In conjunction with the Spencer B. King, Jr. Center for Southern Studies, Woody Register, director of the Roberson Project on Slavery, Race, and Reconciliation at the University of the South (Sewanee) will speak on “Repairing for Justice: How Sewanee’s Roberson Project Is Building Partnerships with the Descendants of the People Its Episcopal Founders Enslaved.” Following his talk, a panel will discuss other schools’ and churches’ work to reckon with their history of slavery and racism. This panel will include the Director of the King Center for Southern Studies Dr. Doug Thompson discussing the Penfield Project.
“I think both Edmondson and Register will give the community, faculty, staff and students real food for thought,” said Harper. “Our hope is that this symposium continues to equip people to work for racial justice and reconciliation in our community as a part of their faith commitments.”
19th Annual Building the Beloved Community Symposium Schedule
Oct. 15
6 p.m.
University Center, Presidents Dining Room, Mercer University campus
Christina Edmondson talk, “Lies Christians Love and How Love Can Set Them Free”
7 p.m.
Banquet and discussion
RSVP required for the banquet
Oct. 16
8:30 a.m.
Centenary Church, 1290 College St., Macon
Prayer Breakfast, RSVP required for meal
10:10 a.m.
Woody Register talk on “Repairing for Justice: How Sewanee’s Roberson Project Is Building Partnerships with the Descendants of the People Its Episcopal Founders Enslaved”
University Center, Presidents Dining Room, Mercer University campus
11:15 a.m.
Panel discussion
12:15 p.m.
Lunch and Keynote Address “Healing the Beloved Community” by Christina Edmondson
University Center, Presidents Dining Room, Mercer University campus
RSVP required for meal
All talks are free and open to the public without the need to register, but to make a reservation for any meal, please register here by Oct. 11.