The “Beloved Community” and Peace

Dr. Richard Rose, professor of religion and philosophy at University of La Verne (La Verne, Calif.) will present a talk entitled, “Building the Beloved Community: What Does Peace Have to Do with It,” on Friday, September 15, at 1 p.m., in Nicarry Chapel, at Bethany Theological Seminary. The event is free and open to the public, with refreshments to follow.

Dr. Rose offers this description of his talk: “The chaos we are experiencing in our culture today has resulted in people looking for ways to restore civility to our lives. This lecture explores the work of thinkers who have advocated peace or non-violence as a foundation for a just social order. The lecture will explore some of those ideas.”

Dr. Rose serves as Coordinator of the Ecumenical Center for Black Church Studies at the University of La Verne. His current research focuses on interfaith dialogue and religious pluralism. He is the author of An Interreligious Approach to a Social Ethic for Christian Audiences (2017) and 7 Meditations on the Lord’s Prayer (2016), both published by Christian World Imprints (New Delhi, India). Dr. Rose is also a member of Bethany’s Board of Trustees.

“We are very grateful to Dr. Rose for sharing his insights on the connections between the concept of a ‘Beloved Community’ and peacemaking,” says Dr. Maggie Elwell, assistant professor of peace studies and director of Bethany BOLD, the seminary’s service-based program for residential students. “We hope this lecture will be educational and inspirational for all who are seeking a more just and peaceful world.”

Bethany BOLD (which stands for Build, Organize, Love and Dare) is a rigorous and demanding program that challenges students to apply their faith and education to address real-world problems, including poverty and racial injustice. Students in the program engage in service, take part in educational activities (like lectures and training sessions) outside the Seminary, and participate in purposeful reflection about their experiences. They receive full-tuition scholarships, free housing, and a living stipend. Learn more about Bethany BOLD.

Bethany Theological Seminary is the only seminary affiliated with the Church of the Brethren, an historic peace church. It is located at 615 National Road West in Richmond, on the edge of the Earlham College campus.

Those unable to attend in person may watch this lecture on Zoom.