Beloved Me, Beloved We

Our Vision:

 To delightfully and prophetically inspire brave spaces so that every child who comes close to Godly Play encounters a felt sense of their inherent worth and dignity as one uniquely and fully created in God’s image (Beloved Me) and co-creates a way of being and inspiring inclusive communities which celebrate the diversity of God and God’s creation (Beloved We). 

Grounded in the Godly Play framework of individual contemplation, collective storytelling, holy wondering, deep play, and mutual blessing, the Beloved Me, Beloved We initiative is an intentional process designed to create lasting change. 

The Beloved Me, Beloved We initiative has five priorities. The anti-racism leadership team is continuing in a process to operationalize each of these in terms of timing, as well as funding and policy implications:

  • Audit our storytelling and training curricula, materials, and processes to identify what terms, phrases, art, and materials “bump” people from different perspectives out of the circle. We will update our language and materials so that everyone can encounter the felt sense of their belonging and worth in a Godly Play classroom, and we commit to highlighting and increasing access to those updated lessons and materials. Learn more about our current Equity Audit project.

  • Increase the diversity and inclusivity of our organizational leadership (in terms of race, LGBTQIA, disability, age, denomination, and languages spoken) in order to uplift traditionally marginalized voices, ensure that children from a variety of perspectives are honored, expand our ways of being together, and embrace our work as a “Beloved We”. We will explicitly prioritize increasing the diversity of our trainers - the first faces of the organization that many encounter - and continue to expand from there.

  • Engage our leaders (Board, staff, trainers and missioners) in an educational process regarding white dominant culture and anti-racism in order to have a shared language and framework for moving forward. This education will uniquely center on the spiritual and identity formation of children to ensure that our anti-racism work is grounded in a child-centered approach. We will ensure all trainers have specific training on identity, race and culturally responsive teaching.

  • Reimagine our funding model to increase equity and accessibility to Godly Play materials, training, and resources.

  • Convene a Beloved Me, Beloved We Advisory Committee which meets monthly for ongoing assessment of our progress in regards to our priorities and ultimate goal. Meet the Committee Members!