Christian Love in a Racialized World:

Becoming Allies

Second Wednesdays beginning Sept. 9 through May 12

6 – 8:30 pm EST

Cost: $455

At Dominican Center Marywood

“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples,

if you have love for one another.”

John 13:35

This course is a spiritual formation community for white Christians to learn how our racialized, inequitable society has formed us and what the biblical call to love God and neighbor is asking of us to be faithful in our discipleship.

We will be paying close attention to the particular social, political, religious, and historical realities of the US context, and even more particularly the history and realities of anti-Black racism in order to address one of the deepest and most persistent structures of harm in US society.

Allyship begins with the belief that Christian love is public, embodied, and justice-oriented. It is a form of Christian discipleship, a concrete expression of loving one’s neighbor as oneself. You are invited into this process of formation that helps us understand ourselves more honestly, see our neighbors more fully, and engage in the ongoing work of care, accountability, and justice in our shared life together.

Details

We will:

cultivate a brave, honest, open space for growth and learning
learn from the lived experience, scholarship and witness of people of color
reflect and dialogue on our spiritual formation as white Christians
practice living faithfully, humbly and courageously in the face of racial injustice
share responsibility for the outcomes of our hope
commit to and learn ways of staying with the tensions
engage intellect, emotion and body in our learning and action
consider the invitation of allyship alongside deeper forms of encounter such as solidarity and liberation

Dates

September 9, 2026
October 7*
November 12
December 9
January 13, 2027
February 10
March 10
April 14
May 12

*Note: this is not the 2nd Wednesday

“Do the best you can until you know better.

Then, when you know better, do better.”

Maya Angelou

Facilitators

Marlene Kowalski-Braun

Marlene Kowalski-Braun (she/her) is a lifelong learner and educator who is passionate about creating the conditions where people and organizations can thrive together in pursuit of a more just and loving world. Across more than 30 years in higher education and community engagement, she has remained deeply committed to the belief that education can be a transformative force for individuals, institutions, faith communities, and society. Marlene recently earned a Master of Arts in Theology with a concentration in Justice and Public Life from Princeton Theological Seminary, complementing her master’s and Ph.D. in Educational Leadership.

Kimberley Mulder

Kimberley enjoys creating, hosting, and facilitating spaces for people to encounter God, experience belovedness, and deepen faith. She received her Master’s of Divinity and Spiritual Direction Certificate from Portland Seminary, an ecumenical school grounded in Quaker and Evangelical roots. Her formation began in nature and family, the Christian Reformed Church, Canada, and continued in Ukraine, the US, refugee resettlement, twenty-two years in a large multi-ethnic Vineyard church in Ohio, and her family of five.

Register

If you would like to apply for financial assistance, please fill out the application form and return to programs@dominicancenter.com. Please wait to register and pay until you have received our response. Thank you!

Financial Assistance