The word “shalom” means more than “peace.” It also encompasses wholeness and right relations. As UUs, we are committed to building a society of shalom/wholeness, which we name “Beloved Community.” But as evidenced by every newscast and paper we see, we are far from that Beloved Community we dream about. We are witness to the growing division and tribalism at work in our society. There is a hole in our wholeness that we need to address, both personally and in society, before we can hope to build Beloved Community. Rev. Joan served as the District Executive of the Ohio Meadville District for 11 years and is now the Executive Director of UU Justice Ohio.

Topics: Beloved Community