A year ago, a group of thirteen Christian leaders gathered under the shared hope of building something that could help the Church become more whole. Month by month, conversation by conversation, we started co-creating a discipleship experience for those longing to see reconciliation in the Church and the world. Our work together birthed the Beloved Community Lab—a hands-on curriculum for Christian leaders to come together across lines of difference to learn and practice unity, justice, and reconciliation in their leadership contexts.
We met monthly, each time bringing our full selves to the table. Our conversations were deep and vulnerable, marked by prayer, laughter, and the hard, necessary work of reckoning with the barriers that keep us from living out the oneness Jesus prays for. One standout moment was a case study exploring tensions between the Church and the LGBTQIA+ community. We examined two parallel narratives: one naming the harm and hubris often perpetuated by the Church, and the other acknowledging the pain and posture of resistance within some parts of the queer community. These conversations required courage and humility—and they reminded us of the work of holding truth with compassion that was central to Jesus’ ministry.
The journey wasn’t just intellectual—it was formational. “Participating in an ecumenical cohort gave me an opportunity to build friendships with Christians who are different than me,” shared Dr. Elizabeth Woodard. “This is of vital importance in being the diverse, beautiful Body of Christ in the community.” Others, like Pastor Sophia Kim from First Korean Church in Cambridge, reflected on how the experience fostered healing: “It helped me realize I wasn’t alone… We weren’t just gathering for discussions—we were creating a space where it felt safe to put our problems on the table, and to support one another as we sought God’s Kingdom together—in Jesus’ way.”
(Above, Pastor Jihyon (Sophia) Kim shares her testimony of participating in the cohorts at our spring “Fortify” Fundraising Party)
We concluded our cohort with a retreat in New Hampshire that deepened our learnings and close out the year together. Each group took time to present the “building blocks” they had developed for the Beloved Community Lab through embodied experiences that stirred mind, heart and imagination. One of our members shared her gifts by cooking an incredible meal, and we gathered around the table as a community—eating, singing, praying, and celebrating what God had done. We even sung songs around a makeshift “campfire” made out of stringed lights because it was too rainy to be outdoors. It was a glimpse of what unity in Christ could look like: a mosaic of voices, perspectives, and traditions seeking to love God and neighbor well.
Several participants shared how deeply this experience impacted their faith and leadership. “This cohort helped me see and know God more fully because of the insights and perspectives of this diverse body of believers,” said Katelyn Hannan. “They expanded my imagination for how I can love my neighbor—especially alongside the whole body of Christ as a collective witness.” Additionally, Pastor Sarah Gautier, pastor of Living Stones Boston, reflected, “The beauty of this journey was affirming that every part of the body is necessary in the work of unity… In our affirmation of one another’s belovedness, we saw the body of Christ come alive to new possibilities across differences.”
For many, the experience has already left a lasting impact. “The relationships I built in this cohort have already been transformative, impacting my ministry and my life in general,” wrote Rev. Tom Reid, pastor of Newton Presbyterian Church. “Thank you, UniteBoston, for your creativity and inspiring witness to the work of the Church here in Boston.” Kat Hampson, pastor of Riverwalk Church, adds, “This journey with my cohort has been life-changing. I have come to cherish these individuals, who were very different from me, as dearly beloved friends and siblings in Christ. Together, we have learned to listen to each other’s stories, seek deeper understanding in how we each engage with God and the world, and share our hearts for God and His Kin-dom.”
As we look ahead, we are excited to refine and expand this curriculum so that others might experience what we have—a journey that moves beyond surface-level unity toward deep reconciliation and repair. “Reflecting on my time in this cohort,” one participant shared, “one of the most significant lessons I learned was how to navigate disagreements without building walls of quiet judgment, but instead build stronger bridges of understanding.”
The Beloved Community Lab is a journey of spiritual formation—shaping participants into peacemakers and ambassadors of reconciliation, growing into the life and way of Jesus. We call this a “lab” because it combines core theological concepts with real-world application through case studies, interactive exercises, and spiritual practices.
We believe that if we want to see a different kind of world and a more embodied Christian witness, we must become different kinds of people. It is an experiment in Christian unity that seeks to change not just what we know, but how we live.
This fall, UniteBoston is launching a pilot group to experience the curriculum in community—and we’d love for you to consider joining us. If you want to grow in learning how to lead your community in the peacemaking, reconciling Way of Jesus, we invite you to come be part of this next chapter. Click here to learn more!
