Beyond Welcome: Building Communities of Love

by Linnea Nelson

How do we go beyond welcome to build compassionate, authentic, and equitable communities? In Beyond Building Communities of Love, editor Linnea Nelson and contributors dream of a future Unitarian Universalism that upholds abundant love and universal justice within every community. Through personal and collective reflections, these heartfelt essays tell stories of how it feels to be in Beloved Community while prompting readers to imagine what it will take to get us there. The lived experiences of these hopeful Unitarian Universalists—ministers, religious professionals, and laypeople alike—illuminate the relevancy of liberation in each and every one of our communities. Examining both the joys of community and the responsibilities we have to one another, Beyond Welcome provides clarity about current structures and behaviors that create barriers to equity in our faith communities as a passageway to building foundational structures of love and liberation.

With questions designed for both personal reflection and group discussion, Beyond Welcome is a powerful and necessary resource for all looking to live into the essence of community.

Genres: Spirituality, Nonfiction

Kindle Edition

Published November 22, 2021

Reviews

[Penny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Important questions for UU churches

I think of myself as pretty informed and aware of issues around inclusion in the UU church. And, as I made my way through this book, I kept finding surprises and new information to consider. I would sit down and tell myself I would read one chapter —- and then I would see the topic of the next chapter or the author and know I needed to keep reading. I read the book in two sittings.

I especially liked the range of expertise that the various contributors brought to the overall topic of inclusion. From an interview With a ten year old boy on “what does community mean” to chapters written by well-known UU ministers and lay people about subjects ranging from gender identity, anti-racism, including youth in the community, Islamophobia, family worship, sacred cyberspace and more.

As mentioned in the introduction to the book, I think a it will be an excellent resource for UU church committees and boards who are wrestling with doing more than just giving a newcomer a special name tag and a warm welcome the first two weeks they show up. This book has specifics about how to delve deeper into the questions that challenge us all about how to be truly inclusive in a meaningful way. Each chapter has one thought-provoking question to consider relevant to your own congregation.

I look forward to seeing how my own congregation might embrace the questions asked in this book.

[Natasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many parts of this book were poignant, and inspire me to bring up ideas with my congregation. For example, I liked the point that families should remain together rather than age-segregation. In this way, parents receive support and are recognized as teachers of the faith. I also agreed that the larger and retired-dominated congregation should make activities and meetings accessible to working people and parents. In consequence, their voices are heard during important discussions. I can foresee some push-back, but I feel progress is not made without resistance, just like exercising. I feel this is work my congregation can do before getting the developmental minister.

[Lyn Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Beyond Welcome” offers essays from a variety of locations and viewpoints that delve into not only the practical work of creating justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in our communities but also the theology and spirituality that undergird those practices. It is very readable and would be great for a group study with a congregation’s Board, staff, or membership team.

[Mary Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

A collection of thought-provoking essays that forces us to look at our congregations and their habits with fresh eyes. This is a must-read for church lay leaders who want to build diverse, welcoming places to worship.

[Kathy Krohn]

Well, while written for Unitarian Univeralsit Congregations.. lessons apply to lost of faith/volunteer groups.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every chapter has something to offer, from hope to challenge, for example:
"Built Through Trust" by Rev. Manish Mishra-Marzetti
"Covenant and Community" by Julica Hermann de la Fuente and Christina Rivera
"A Welcoming Congregation Must Be Accessible" by Julie Romero
"A Conscious Act to Stay Engages" by Jenice L View
"Social Class and Beloved Community" by Denise Moorehead

I would like to read more real life applications, case studies.

Section at the end provides resources - a nice list of books and articles and a list of organizations - and short bios of the contributors.