Building Beloved Community: The Courage to Love in the Face of Tyranny

by The United Methodist Church Council of Bishops, Kenneth L. Carder

Building beloved communities where division cannot stand.

When fear and division threaten to take hold, faith communities face a pivotal give in or rise to embody God's radical love and build inclusive, united communities.

Building Beloved Community, a call to action from the United Methodist Council of Bishops, equips readers with theological insight, practical strategies, and inspiring global stories to resist division and foster connection. Drawing on experiences from Ukraine, the Philippines, Guatemala, and beyond, it reveals common patterns of authoritarianism and offers faithful alternatives grounded in love over fear.

Rooted in Wesleyan theology, this resource guides readers in navigating tough conversations, creating safe spaces, engaging in compassionate action, and building networks of solidarity. Reflection questions at the end of each chapter encourage deeper study and meaningful engagement.

Addressing forces such as Christian nationalism, racism, and extremism, Building Beloved Community underscores the urgent need for social healing and the church's role in building just, grace-filled communities. Whether you are a faith leader, congregant, seminary student, or activist, this book offers hope, guidance, and a vision for living faithfully in challenging times. Together, we can reject fear and division to create communities rooted in justice, love, and care.

187 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 21, 2025

Reviews

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very readable book about the times we live in, world-wide, and how the United Methodist Church is tackling them in a theological, and practical, way. With examples from everyday life, the reading guides you to come up with ways to work for good in difficult times.

[Bruce · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a short book with a direct message: faithful Christians must take note of the threats to American democracy, and engage in dialogue and action on behalf of a vision of a society where all are welcome and loved. The first part, redolent of Timothy Snyder's On Tyranny, details the immanence of authoritarian threats. The bishops want all Methodists to know the emergency has come up, and don't get stuck in routine church activities. The last part of the book has tips for engagement (stay humble, create space for coming together, share stories not data, e.g.). I found the book, despite its compelling message, difficult to concentrate on. Was I rushing through it, or is it there something in the writing. It's been a worthy stimulus for group discussion at church anyhow.