Thank you ECMN for a fabulous 160th Convention!
We were led by our preacher and facilitator Heidi Kim, Staff Officer for Racial Reconciliation for The Episcopal Church. We were inspired by our youth speaker, Luisa Van Oss from St. Paul’s in Duluth. We were resourced by the our Team of Missioners. We were graciously hosted by the Northeast Mission Area Team.
We did important and aspirational work on Engaging God’s Mission of the Beloved Community.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. cast a vision for the Beloved Community that The King Center has captured in this way:
“Dr. King’s Beloved Community is a global vision, in which all people can share in the wealth of the earth. In the Beloved Community, poverty, hunger and homelessness will not be tolerated because international standards of human decency will not allow it. Racism and all forms of discrimination, bigotry and prejudice will be replaced by an all-inclusive spirit of sisterhood and brotherhood. In the Beloved Community, international disputes will be resolved by peaceful conflict-resolution and reconciliation of adversaries, instead of military power. Love and trust will triumph over fear and hatred. Peace with justice will prevail over war and military conflict.”( The King Center, “The King Philosophy”).
This the fulfillment of Dr. King’s dream.
Our own Presiding Bishop Michael Curry talks about God’s dream in a way that is very much in line with Dr. King’s dream. And both of these are in complete alignment with the words and work of Jesus. Words and work that when we follow, we find the Kingdom of God coming near.
For our part in ECMN, we believe that when all the baptized in every faith community have been given the opportunity to discern and be equipped to use their gifts in partnership with others in their neighborhood, we will be doing our part to make the dream of the Beloved Community a reality.
This is the Gospel work we are called to, friends. It is why we have been gifted by the Holy Spirit and it is where Jesus is calling us to follow.
Source: Bishop Brian Prior – The Dream of the Beloved Community