History

History of The Annual Building the Beloved Community Symposium Mercer University

By John Marson Dunaway

"Do You Have a Dream for Tomorrow?" During the summer of 2003 I went on a mission trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo, where I was invited to speak at the Université Libre des Pays des Grands Lacs in Goma on this topic, drawing upon the biblical stories of Joseph & the dream of Martin Luther King, Jr.

A few months later I saw an article in the Macon Telegraph by a local African-American pastor (Lonzy Edwards) encouraging local religious leaders to come together to talk about overcoming the racial segregation of our churches.

Not long afterward I had a vivid dream myself, in which I saw myself at Mercer with a group of scholars (both African-American & white) whom I had gathered to address the same topic and with the theme, "Building the Beloved Community." I was profoundly moved, and from that day I set to work organizing an annual "Building the Beloved Community" Symposium on this campus.

I have assembled a planning committee of local religious leaders, and the Mercer Commons sponsors the event annually.

I believe that the Holy Spirit has birthed this vision, not just in me, but in a number of leaders in this community. Dr. King, as you recall, said the most segregated hour of the week in our communities was 11:00 a.m. on Sundays. Unfortunately, that has not changed very much in the years since then. We don't aim to create a fruitbasket-turnover among the local churches, but we do believe the church should demonstrate unity as we collaborate across denominational and racial boundaries.

We specifically hope to foster follow-up activities along the following lines:

  • sister church relationships
  • pulpit exchanges
  • partnerships in community development and service
  • formation of small action groups on specific appropriate issues

Thus far, our list of speakers has included the following:

2012

Professor Bill J. Leonard, James & Marilyn Dunn Chair of Baptist Studies, Former Dean, Wake Forest University School of Divinity

Professor Chester J. Fontenot, Jr., Baptist Professor of English, Director, Africana Studies, Mercer University
2011 The 2011 Keynote Speaker Rev. Leroy Barber, President, Mission Year. His theme  "Who Is Our Neighbor? Poverty in the Beloved Community, II Cor. 8:9."

Mr. Calvin Cole, Speakers Bureau, Macon Coalition to End Homelessness
2010

Rev. Dr. Samuel Wells (Dean of Chapel, Duke University)

Professor Anthony Harris, Tift College of Education at Mercer University
2009

Rev. Dr. Emmanuel L. McCall (Fellowship Baptist Church, East Pt., GA

Dr. Robert L. Lupton (FCS Urban Ministries)
2008

Rev. Dr. James A. Forbes, Jr. (Former Pastor, Riverside Church, NYC)

Rev. Mo Leverett (Rebirth International urban ministries)
2007 Professor Richard L. Gray (Asbury Theological Seminary)
2006

Rev. Dr. John M. Perkins (J.M. Perkins Foundation for Reconciliation & Development)

Rev. Gail Bowman (Dillard University)
2005

Rev. Fred L. Shuttlesworth (Legendary Civil Rights Leader)

Professor Andrew M. Manis (Macon State College)

Professor Catherine Meeks (Wesleyan College)

Organizing Committee

  • Ms. Alice Bailey (The January Group)
  • Rev. Stacey Harwell (Minister of Community Building, Centenary UMC)
  • Rev. Clifford Little (Pastor, Greens Tabernacle Baptist)
  • Dr. Craig McMahan (University Minister)
  • Rev. Cameron Pennybacker (Pres./CEO, Diversity Assets)
  • Ms. Betty Slater (Willis-Slater Productions)
  • Ms. Barbara Chavous Yancey (Director, Strategic Projects, RiverEdge Foundation