Mistakes and Miracles

Congregations on the Road to Multiculturalism

By: Nancy Palmer Jones, Karin Lin

Narrated by: Julie Cleburn, Karin Lin, Nancy Palmer Jones

What calls Unitarian Universalists to create multicultural, antiracist Beloved Community? What do congregations need when they embark on this journey? What common threads run through their stories?

Nancy Palmer Jones and Karin Lin—a white minister and a lay person of color—share how five diverse congregations encounter frustrations and disappointments, as well as hope and wonder, once they commit to the journey. Mistakes abound. Miracles of transformation and joy emerge too. Extensively researched and thoughtfully written—with reflection questions at the end of each chapter—Mistakes and Miracles: Congregations on the Road to Multiculturalism will guide listeners to apply these stories to their own communities, develop next steps, and renew their commitment to this hard but meaningful work.

©2019 Nancy Palmer Jones and Karin Lin (P)2023 Skinner House Books

Journey to Multiculturalism

I particularly liked the repetition and returning to key ideas throughout the book. It worked great to reinforce the message with different points of view and experience. Good for any search committee looking for a minister, folks working on their mission or leadership development.

Very disappointing

I tried very hard, hoping this would be perfect for our UU book group. It’s awful. They try to tell interesting stories but are so determined to be open-minded they come up with dualistic notions of White congregants versus people of color, they just managed to make me angry. I struggled further (when other group members said they just gave up) but still had to quit. As a small church with mostly aging congregants but one that has embraced and supported asylum seekers, I was especially disappointed in how useless it was.