The Moment to Step Up
First Congregational Church of South Portland, a progressive, Open and Affirming congregation of the United Church of Christ, has long been involved in social justice advocacy and a variety of community ministries.
However, until recently we had not examined our own history as a congregation founded in 1733 on unceded land of the Wabanaki Confederacy.
The moment has now come to engage in that exploration and identity ways to repair and restore connections with the Wabanaki and other Indigenous peoples that are more respectful, just, and sustainable.
Our Hope and Intention
We hope and pray that our collective efforts at FCC will aid in raising consciousness about injustice and the legacy of white supremacy and colonization, identify ways to correct these injustices within our congregational life and beyond, and help equip FCC members and others to become better informed, more effective advocates in our community and in the Maine legislature.
Our Engagement within FCCUCC
2024-25 is a year of learning and engagement.
Portland Museum of Art exhibit:
In August 2024, we sponsored a visit to the Portland Museum of Art to see the Jeremy Frey exhibit “Woven.”
Land acknowledgments:
Now that the new church year has started, we’re inviting the congregation to listen to and reflect on land acknowledgments in the context of worship and at meetings of Church Council and our various Teams and committees.
Compilation of 20 Land Acknowledgments
Meditation Guide for Land Acknowledgements
Upcoming Events:
Throughout this year, we’ll be scheduling book discussions, film viewings, and a workshop on “decolonizing faith communities” led by members of Wabanaki REACH. (Details to follow)
What We’ve Already Done:
Launching a Three-Part Educational Series
In order to deepen our awareness of, and commitment to ending, social and racial injustice, in 2020 FCC launched a three-part educational series on Wabanaki-Maine history with the goal of preparing ourselves to be more effective advocates for justice within our congregation, local communities, and the Maine legislature. To engage in this work, we applied for and received a $5,000 grant from the Haney-Leighton Fund, a small Maine foundation that supports grassroots and faith-based social change. We also invited other congregations in the area to participate with us, including the Cape Elizabeth United Methodist Church, Congregation Bet Ha’am, St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, and the Cathedral Church of St. Luke
In October 2022 we began our educational series by inviting Wabanaki REACH (Restoration, Engagement, Advocacy, Change, and Healing) to offer an online workshop entitled “Interacting with Wabanaki-Maine History.”Wabanaki REACH describes this “101” workshop as “an interactive experience in which we engage in telling a story of particular events in the history of 400 years of colonization of Wabanaki people by Europeans in this territory now called the state of Maine. . . in order to genuinely increase our understanding of colonization and what it means for current descendants and future generation” and “to reflect on what story we are writing for our grandchildren.”
The second component in our educational series ran from December 2022 through January 2023 and centered on the recently published book The Gatherings: Reimaging Indigenous-Settler Relations (University of Toronto Press, 2021). Book collective members Shirley Hager and gkisedtanamoogk gave an online authors’ talk, which was followed by a three-session book discussion facilitated by FCC’s Mission and Social Witness team. To conclude our conversations about The Gatherings, we held a follow-up online conversation with the co-authors, by which time we found ourselves better prepared in formulating questions and sharing insights.
We had projected that the third component of the series, scheduled for spring 2023, would be a three-session workshop on “Decolonization and the Role of Faith Communities,” to be facilitated by the Anti-Racism Resource Team of the Maine Conference. However, that workshop was postponed while the curriculum was under revision. By September 2023, a pilot of the revised workshop was available for testing as “Deconstructing Christian Imperialism in Wabanaki Territory,” and Rev. Alison Patton and Marvin Ellison were among the three-dozen people from various congregations who agreed to participate in, and then evaluate, the revised curriculum. (Unfortunately, this updated workshop is being further revised and is not yet available.)
We joined the Wabanaki Alliance Coalition
In the meantime, under the auspices of the Mission and Social Witness Team, this Wabanaki Allies working group has gathered and begun collecting resources and planning ways to engage the entire congregation in these explorations. To move things forward, in May 2024 MSWT voted to become a member of the Wabanaki Alliance Coalition, which now includes more than 250 faith-based and community partners working together to promote Wabanaki sovereignty and tribal well-being through education and legislative advocacy.
Special Presentation: Maine Council of Churches and Wabanaki Authors
In collaboration with the Maine Council of Churches, we are proud to offer a special presentation “The Gatherings: Reimaging Indigenous-Settler Relations” featuring The Maine Council of Churches interviews with authors Shirley Hager and Rev. Shirley Bowen. Click the image below to view it.
Additionally, FCC convened an authors’ talk with Shirley Hager and gkisedtanamoogk about The Gatherings
on November 6, 2022.
To view the Intro to The Gatherings event from November 6, 2022, use this link and enter this code: aVEB44^u
The second part of The Gatherings conversation from the same date is available here with this passcode: Hsp*kP#3
FCC convened a follow-up conversation with co-authors Shirley Hager and gkisedtanamoogk on February 6, 2023 and you can reach out to Marvin (email below) if you’d like to listen to that conversation.
Our Engagement beyond FCCUCC
We work with partner organizations to deepen our understanding and engagement.
Wabanaki Alliance Coalition
In May 2024 FCCUCC’s Mission and Social Witness Team voted to become a member of the Wabanaki Alliance Coalition, which includes more than 250 faith-based and community partners to promote Wabanaki sovereignty and tribal well-being through education and legislative advocacy.
Members of our Wabanaki Allies working group participate in monthly meetings of the Wabanaki Alliance Coalition and turn out for Coalition events, including advocacy days in Augusta at the Maine legislature.
Atlantic Black Box: Walks for Historical and Ecological Recovery
Atlantic Black Box and its partner organizations sponsor WHERE, a series of walks throughout Maine, to tell a more truthful story about our history and explore ways to build communities of mutual respect and support the care of the land itself.
Upcoming 2024 walks include:
October 6 Brunswick: The Pejepscot Portage Walk Pejepscot Portage Mapping Project leads A four-mile walk along the portage through today’s Brunswick, connecting Maquoit Bay with the falls at Pejepscot on the Androscoggin river.
October 27 Biddeford/Saco: The Inclusive Walking Tour Walk A walk and program designed to support communities in telling fuller stories, led by Community Change, Inc., in collaboration with Biddeford / Saco Racial Justice partners.
November 16 York: The Inclusive Walking Tour Walk A walk and program designed to support communities in telling fuller stories, led by Community Change, Inc., in collaboration with Biddeford / Saco Racial Justice partners.
Dig Deeper: List of Resources for Continuing Education
Interested in Joining the Wabanaki Allies Working Group?
Email Pastor Alison or Marvin Ellison.
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