About us: Historically, American institutions, including religious institutions, have contributed to the unequal treatment of many of its marginalized citizens, particularly those identified as Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC). Unjust policies involving housing, elections, hiring and education opportunities are examples that continue to hinder this large segment of our society. Newman Congregational Church, United Church of Christ formed a Racial Equity Team to address some of these issues.
Our Vision: We envision a community where our relationships, institutions and social systems provide equitable support and resources for all.
Our Mission: The Racial Equity Team of Newman UCC will be a leader within our community exposing, naming and dismantling racism, white supremacy and all forms of prejudice. This work will exist within the life of this church and beyond to build awareness, solutions, and leadership for racial justice.
We define racial justice as equitable treatment, opportunities and outcomes for people of all races and ethnicities.
Discussion Group: for many years, the Racial Equity Team (RET) has sponsored the reading of over 35 books around social justice issues.
The theme for the 2025–26 program year is “Banning Books”: what, why and the consequences of this practice, which has increased in recent years.
Here’s the Next Book Discussion Group Topic:
April Discussion
*April 15th at 7 pm via Zoom – Our discussion will be on “”Beloved” by Toni Morrison For a zoom link to join the discussion, please email Michelle White in the Church Office at newmanucc1643@gmail.com.
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Racial Equity Scholarship
Indigenous Connections
Understanding our relationship with the Pokanoket (Wampanoag) people who were the original inhabitants of the land where this church is located.
Worship together with a significant group of Pokanoket and celebrating the new historical marker on Newman Avenue in October 2022 were highlights. In February of 2023, we voted to adopt this Land Acknowledgment Statement.
Three Sisters Garden
For the past two years, the garden group has planted a Three Sisters Garden to reflect and honor the Pokanoket heritage of the land upon which our church stands. With guidance from the Pokanokets, we have planted the three sisters: corn, beans (to climb the corn and to fix nitrogen in the soil), and squash (to shade the roots and limit weeds) in three mounds. Fish was added to each mound to provide fertilizer. Corn was planted when oak leaves were as big as a mouse’s ear, beans were planted when the corn was 10 inches in height, and zucchini and pumpkins were planted between the mounds. Effort was made to plant seeds on the full moon. Produce was donated to the Good Neighbors Food Pantry.