Is the beloved community still a possibility? Christians, Jews, organizations, institutions, and congregations sought to answer this question at “United in Hope: The Beloved Community,” hosted by the Faith and Justice Coalition of Tarrant County on January 19. The event blended interfaith liturgy and worship to commemorate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
As participants gathered at Carter Metropolitan CME Church, possibility and excitement enveloped the space. Rev. Ryon Price, Senior Pastor at Broadway Baptist Church and Coalition Convener, opened Sunday evening’s event by explaining its purpose: “to bear witness, be in solidarity, and to be united in hope. We have hopes for this beloved community, Tarrant County, the state, and the world. We are here to hold each other’s hopes.”
In his keynote address, Bishop James Dixon II offered poignant suggestions for answering Price’s call and reigniting the mission of building the beloved community.
Throughout his passionate appeal for attendees to lead with love, Dixon suggested that one way to be united in hope is to see humanity in one another. When we see humanity in another, we are emboldened to love beyond differences of religion, faith, or political affiliation.
Dixon, Pastor of Community and Faith Church in Houston, TX, and President of the NAACP Houston Branch, suggested attendees “confront neocolonialism and imperialism.”
He added, “Very few have power, and distraction is used to keep us from noticing the imbalance of power. Meanwhile, many live in poverty and suffer. Policies are put into place without the best interest of others in mind.”
Dixon also highlighted global issues of poverty and inequity.
He urged attendees to “eliminate the strongholds keeping some of us dehumanized and disenfranchised. Desires to control the global economy eclipse truths and keep the oppressed suffering. It is not about race, political parties or other methods used to cause divisiveness.”
King’s legacy and teachings remind us that living a life steeped in love and flanked by justice is not easy. We know this to be true because King and countless others have lost their lives for it.
Yet, the theme of the evening resonated with so many because there is a yearning and waiting for a world in which beloved communities are abundant. These beloved communities are designed to foster an attitude of being each other’s keepers and seeing God in everyone.
These communities withstand differences and place love of one another at the forefront. They are neighborhoods, institutions, congregations and organizations with equity in opportunities, income, education and power.
Throughout the evening, participants from St. Andrews UMC, Brite Divinity School, the NAACP Fort Worth Branch, Bethel-El Congregation, Fellowship Southwest, Iglesia Bautista Victora en Cristo, Makom Shelanu Congregation, and Greater St. Stephen First Church echoed these sentiments multilingually.
Rev. Dr. Valencia Edner, Senior Pastor of Carter Metropolitan CME Church, said she believes in the mission of the Justice and Faith Coalition of Tarrant County so deeply that Carter was happy to host the event and trusts beloved communities all over will be reignited.
Edner said: “The Interfaith MLK service provided those in attendance with a marvelous portrait of the beloved community united in hope, in a time when life and community uncertainty loom. It is my hope and prayer that those who were there received inspiration to continue the fight for justice but also were able to recognize our collective strength for the days to come … we will need it!”
The Faith and Justice Coalition of Tarrant County is a multi-faith, multi-racial, multi-generational movement of religious communities in Tarrant County.
The Coalition describes its mission: “Through collaborative relationships, we organize people of faith to work for justice and fairness in the public square. We bring communities together to influence culture, change policy, and hold our elected officials accountable to serve all the residents of Tarrant County.”
The Coalition has recently sought to highlight the injustices of several in-custody deaths in Tarrant County jail.
The Rev. Dr. Aretha R. Flucker is a writer, consultant, and strategist. She centers her work and ongoing research on spiritual formation within the church and beyond. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Alliance of Baptists and does justice-focused work, grant writing, and consultancy with various divinity schools, organizations, and congregations.
Rev. Dr. Aretha Flucker is the author of “Reimagining the Cross: Jesus, a Womanist Co-Sufferer and Co-Conspirator” in Taking on the Cross: Reimagining the Meaning of Jesus’ Life and Death.
