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
Our Members
The Rev. Katie Holicky
she/her, St. Paul’s 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
The Rev. Lauren Kay
they/them, St. George’s Sanford, a white person in Abenaki territory
John Hennesy
he/him, a white person living in the Abenaki Territory (Wabanaki)
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’s
St. Paul’s Sacred Ground Program
The Sacred Ground program offers discussion groups led by trained facilitators in order to make this conversation safe and impactful. It was launched in 2019 by The Episcopal Church and was so well-received that it has been adapted by St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Brunswick to be suitable for folks of all faiths or no particular faith.
As of May 2022, St. Paul’s, Brunswick has six all-community Sacred Ground groups up and running and continue to expand! These circles welcome participants from many different backgrounds into deep interfaith dialogue about race and racism. If you are interested in learning more about this expansion of the Sacred Ground program, please email the program coordinator, watch this video, and visit their website.
Racial Justice Resources
Link
Pastoral statement on mass shooting in Buffalo from Presiding Bishop Michael Curry – May 16, 2022
Link
Maine Voices: People of faith urge legislators, Gov. Mills to support tribal sovereignty
Video
Recording of Restoring Wabanaki Tribal Sovereignty Forum held Feb. 20, 2022
Link
Sacred Ground
