Mercer’s 20th Annual Beloved Community Symposium to feature local insights

MACON, Ga. — Mercer University’s Beloved Community Initiative is holding its 20th annual Building the Beloved Community Symposium on faith and racial justice on Oct. 21 and 22, featuring a full slate of free events and meals that are open to the public. This year’s theme is “The New Macon: Seeking God’s Vision for a City Made Whole.”

“For our 20th symposium, we wanted to focus on our local community and practical steps,” said Dr. Matt Harper, co-convener of the Beloved Community Initiative and associate professor of history and Africana studies. “Instead of headlining a national speaker, we have an original film and the insights of bridgebuilders from right here in Macon.”

This year, the symposium on faith and racial justice will have a local theme. Organizers have taken inspiration from Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s final sermon, where he said, “It’s all right to talk about the new Jerusalem, but one day, God’s preacher must talk about the new New York, the New Atlanta, the new Philadelphia, the new Los Angeles, the new Memphis.” This year’s theme will ask participants to realistically assess and lament Macon’s divisions and inequalities and to offer real hope for a more whole community.

“We want to gather the community to lament and to hope and to imagine what the beloved community would actually look like on our campus and in our city,” said Dr. Harper.

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. 17.

Symposium Schedule

Tuesday, Oct. 21
6 p.m., Presidents Dining Room, University Center, Mercer University, Macon
Introduction by Dr. Matt Harper and debut of episode five of the ReFounding Macon video series 

7 p.m., Presidents Dining Room, University Center, Mercer University, Macon
Banquet and discussion (RSVP required for meal)

Wednesday, Oct. 22
8:30 a.m., Fellowship Hall of Centenary Church, 1185 Ash St., Macon 
Prayer Breakfast
RSVP required for meal

10:10 a.m., Presidents Dining Room, University Center, Mercer University, Macon
Local speakers offering laments and hopes, including

• Dr. Dan Sims, superintendent of Bibb County Schools
• Melissa Rodriguez McClain, Georgia Latino Alliance for Human Rights and interpreter for the National Immigrant Justice Center
• Carl Tims, chief operating officer of the United Way of Central Georgia
• Rev. Jason McClendon, president of the Mayor’s Council of Clergy for Racial and Economic Justice

11:15 a.m., Presidents Dining Room, University Center, Mercer University, Macon
Workshop on sustainable practices 

12:15 p.m., Presidents Dining Room, University Center, Mercer University, Macon
Lunch and discussion 
RSVP required for meal