Becoming Beloved Community
The Becoming Beloved Community Team of the Christian Church (DOC) in Greater Kansas City started as the Region's
pro-reconciling and anti-racism team in the spring of 2019. Recognizing that the church has been a part of starting and sustaining racism over the years, and recognizing that Jesus calls us to work for justice and equity, we seek to empower Greater KC Disciples to be a part of the movement for wholeness through education, relationship-building, and actions leveraging change.
​
Our Team is volunteer-led and operated. We consist of 10-15 pastors and lay people from around the Greater KC Region.
Racial Justice Summit
Join the Becoming Beloved Community at the 3rd annual Racial Justice Summit in Kansas City. The summit will take place on Saturday, November 1st, from 12:30 to 5:30 and feature guest speaker Rev. William Lamar IV. Attendees will participate in various workshops centered around justice and activism in our community.
Workshop Topics Include:
-
CHALLENGING POLITICAL CONVERSATIONS
-
SELF-CARE IN THE TRENCHES
-
HOUSING JUSTICE
-
REPARATIONS
-
ECONOMIC JUSTICE
-
GOOD TROUBLE
-
FREEDOM OF SPEECH
-
LITERACY JUSTICE
-
IMMIGRATION
-
JUSTICE
-
WORKERS RIGHTS
%20(5).png)
Films for a Cause: No Other Land
Join us for a deeper understanding of the current realities in Israel & Palestine, and for an opportunity to connect with collaborative, interfaith responses that honor the dignity of all and seek both justice and peace.
​
With a $10 suggested donation, the money will be split between event costs and Kansas-based Palestinian American Medical Association (PAMA) who are "Empowering Hope: Transforming Lives Through Compassionate Giving "and providing proactive relief and resources to those experiencing oppression.
​
Reflecting Together About Spirituality and Activism
Rev Rob Carr facilitates a conversation with three friends whose ministries encompass spiritual formation, spiritual direction and leadership development. When there are so many pressing matters of missional engagement in our communities and beyond, how do we offer our most grounded and soulfully wise and loving selves to these matters? What wisdom does Jesus offer us? What can we learn from his example?
We network with local congregations, local community organizers, other Regions & the General Church. Since 2019, we have:
1
Financially supported Community Organizing organizations like MORE2, NAACP, and local celebrations of the Civil Rights movement
4
Juneteenth 2020 virtual event raising awareness of KC racism, history of Juneteenth, and history of the struggle against racism
7
Virtual daily Holy Week justice-centered devotions
10
Sent letter to Board of Police Commissioners in KC to request that Chief Smith no longer be allowed to be Chief of KCPD.
2
Created and led a workshop on becoming trauma-informed, especially with sensitivity to the traumas caused by racism
5
Virtual daily Advent justice-centered devotions
8
Wrote grants to empower translation of the Anti-Racism Pro-Reconciliation training into Spanish
11
Led the inaugural KC Racial Justice Summit in 2023, incorporating community organizers addressing racial justice in KC, building their bases, empowering congregations and local residents with the theological reasons, resource, know-how, and motivation to get involved in the work.
3
Led 3 follow-up groups to go deeper in creating tangible actions based on what was learned at the workshop about racism and trauma
​
6
Virtual weekly Lenten justice-centered prayer times, along with education on fasting
9
Sent 4 people to Gamaliel Community Organizing training
12
Provided multiple virtual book studies and small groups for our congregations (and even some from across the country) to grow in understanding of racism’s historical and ongoing impacts as well as self-awareness of growth needed in order to be part of the healing.