Mistakes and Miracles: Congregations on the Road to Multiculturalism

by Nancy Palmer Jones, Karin Lin

What calls Unitarian Universalists to create multicultural, antiracist Beloved Community? What do congregations need when they embark on this journey? What common threads run through their stories? Nancy Palmer Jones and Karin Lin—a white minister and a lay person of color—share how five diverse congregations encounter frustrations and disappointments, as well as hope and wonder, once they commit to the journey. Mistakes abound. Miracles of transformation and joy emerge too. Extensively researched and thoughtfully written—with reflection questions at the end of each chapter—Mistakes and Congregations on the Road to Multiculturalism will guide readers to apply these stories to their own communities, develop next steps, and renew their commitment to this hard but meaningful work.

Genres: Religion, Nonfiction, Spirituality

447 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 19, 2019

Reviews

[Anita Farber-Robertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Filled with insight, heart, passion and intentional self awareness

As one who has also been a faithful leader committed to anti-racism and anti-oppression work, in congregational life, as well as in my own personal journey I found it very helpful to read about the stories of others who also struggle to stay on the path.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book chapter by chapter with my congregation, until the last two chapters. Those two took me seven months to finish. Here I am at 4:15pm on New Year's Eve, finishing up because I don't want to drag this book into the New Year. It is well past time to finish.

This book was very interesting and immensely challenging. I think this is why it took so long to finish. There is no "happily ever after" on the anti-racism road. These authors know far more about this than I, though it is a topic that is tackled over and over in this book. It is hard to read through so many times of miscommunications, misunderstandings and such. It seems like different kinds of people getting along shouldn't be so hard.

But I liked the last chapter, how the authors reconcile with this experience. How Karin says, "I have a maturity about this work that I didn't have before." We are not all going to get the experiences of the authors, but I hope to gain at least some of the maturity, and to really learn that the road is long, there is no finish line, and the journey to the Beloved Community is worth it no matter what.

[Marta E C R · Rating 5 out of 5]

As part of a group which has been working toward antiracism and multiculturalism in my own congregation for two years now, I particularly appreciated the messy and very human journeys the five congregations featured in this book, as well as the authors, are on, and will continue to be on. This is the 2022-2023 Common Read of the UUA (Unitarian Universalist Association, the national organization of the UU religion), and my congregation is starting a 4-part book discussion on this book tomorrow. I'm greatly looking forward to further deepening of my own understanding and discerning ways our congregation can move forward in our own journey together.

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned so much from this book.
This is a case study on different Unitarian Congregations who are on the path to becoming multicultural congregations.
Each case was very different from each other.
There are many trials along the way.
I enjoyed learning about the differing makeups of the congregations.
I would recommend this to anyone wanting to learn about different UU churches and any one who is interested in having their UU congregation becoming more multicultural. Be prepared for a lot of work and a long process, but also a very rewarding process.

[Sarah Chambers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honest conversations and examples of Unitarian Universalist churches striving for multiculturalism and fighting white supremacy culture. Really grateful I found this community that's doing the work. 💗

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I sampled the first few chapters of this book. Need to reread.

[Mary D · Rating 3 out of 5]

Instructive. Helped me reach a decision.

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

In some ways I felt I was treading on well worn ground and in another way it was gratifying to have my thoughts and feelings validated.

[Anne McKeirnan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A helpful interesting book to read to better appreciate the challenges in becoming a multicultural anti racist beloved community in a UU congregation.

[Auntie M · Rating 3 out of 5]

It started out slow, but the chapters about each congregation were interesting. There were a lot of resources at the beginning, though.

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a well-researched, well-written look at congregations who have consciously worked toward becoming multicultural. At first, I found it hard to get into, but that's just me. When I got to the rest of the book about what the authors observed at the congregations and how they viewed each congregation's path, it was riveting. Also, I was so glad I had read the first part of the book beause understanding the methodology and framework contributed so much to my understanding. I've been busy trying to interest some of my friends in reading it.

[Terri Chadwick]

Good nonfiction book on authors' visits to many UU churches taking steps toward multiculturalism. Funny and educational anecdotes. Amazing history of several churches including Tulsa All Souls.