Racial Justice
Our Mission & Vision
Our Mission: Our purpose for being
To advance and advocate racial justice in Maine.
Our Vision: What we desire and what compels us
To achieve a more just Maine by living into our baptism: to seek and serve Christ in all persons, respect the dignity of every human being, and transform unjust structures of society.
Racial Justice Statement
Hear from Bishop Brown
The Right Reverend Thomas J. Brown, the tenth bishop of Maine shares a statement regarding racial justice and the Episcopal Church in Maine.
Our Work
How we plan to live into our mission and achieve our vision
We will raise awareness of and address the evils of systemic racism in Maine through:
Liturgy
- Provide liturgical resources for parishes
- Diocesan services
- Promote inclusion of multicultural materials as part of worship
Formation
- Provide educational resources for parishes and individuals
- Formation opportunities for parishes and the Diocese
Action
- Raise awareness of opportunities for action
- Advocate legislative measures that promote racial justice
- Come alongside those engaged in protests for racial justice
Sacred Ground Program
A major focus for the Racial Justice Council (RJC) is to promote the Sacred Ground program, launched in 2019 by The Episcopal Church, which offers discussion groups led by trained facilitators in order to make conversations about race safe and impactful.
RJC would like to invite you to participate in Sacred Ground in one of three ways in the coming year:
1) The Tri-Diocesan Sacred Ground circles shared between Episcopal Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. These meet bi-weekly, online. Registration for these circles is now closed. Watch for future chances to take part.
2) The shared Sacred Ground circles between the Episcopal Dioceses of Maine and Alabama. These also meet bi-weekly, online. You can register for one of the circles beginning in fall of 2023 here.
3) You can begin a circle in your church, to meet in-person or online! If you have questions, please be in touch with Rev. Katie Holicky.
If you are interested in learning more about one of these opportunities to join a shared circle, please be in touch with the Rev. Katie Holicky.
Our Members
The Rev. Katie Holicky
she/her, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church -Brunswick, a white person in the Abenaki Territory of the Wabanaki Confederacy
The Rev. Carol L. Huntington
Retired Deacon, she/her, Grace Church-Bath, an Anglo white person living in the Abenaki Territory, Wabanaki Confederacy on the shores of the Kinipek
Diane Potter
she/her, Christ Church-Gardiner, European American, white person in Wabanaki Territory
Ted Potter
he/him, Christ Church-Gardiner, European American, white person in Wabanaki Territory
June R. Smoot
she/her, St. David’s Episcopal Church-Kennebunk, a European-American/white person in Wabanaki territory
Roy Smoot
he/him, St. David’s Episcopal Church,Kennebunk, a European-American/white person in Wabanaki territory
Tom Van Buren
he/him, St. Brendan the Navigator Episcopal Church-Deer Isle
Racial Justice Resources
Link
Maliseet Ambassador presentation at Church of the Good Shepherd
Video
Recording of Justice Commission Town Hall 2/7/2023
