In recent years First Parish has engaged in efforts to better understand, acknowledge, and take actions regarding both the positive and negative impacts our congregation has had in shaping Watertown and the wider community over the past four centuries. In 2021-22 The Eighth Principle Task Force educated and guided our congregation to unanimously vote to adopt it: “We, the member congregations of the UUA, covenant to affirm and promote: journeying toward spiritual wholeness by working to build a diverse and multicultural Beloved Community by our actions that accountably dismantle racism and other oppressions in ourselves and our institutions.”
Subsequently another group, the Welcoming Building Task Force, surveyed the congregation’s views of the historical artifacts displayed in the Meeting House foyer, sanctuary, conference room, and social hall, then implemented what the majority believed would make our building less oppressive and more welcoming to both a diverse community and our parishioners. In March 2024 the Welcoming Building Task Force completed its work by recommending, among other things, that a new temporary group should propose an action plan for exploring FPW’s history as we approach our 400th anniversary in 2030. So, here we are: the Grappling with Our History Working Group!
From left: Eric Hanson Plass, Charmian Proskauer, Virginia Rice, Judy Kamm, Sarah McSweeney
Parish Committee’s charge to us is to: 1) document existing historical work about FPW; 2) identify the congregation’s expectations and preferences about key historical topics and possible ways to share this history; 3) report our progress and findings; and 4) propose an action plan that interested parishioners could implement over the next few years. We began meeting every other week in March and expect to conclude our work with a congregational meeting to discuss our proposal in October.
We are posting a bibliography and electronic copies of historical documents and research projects undertaken by members past and present on First Parish’s existing “History Circle” page in SharePoint, thanks to Eric. Congregational access will happen soon. Our former Church Historian, Kathy Button, has for many years headed up this group of church history enthusiasts.
Now we need your help. In early May we will be emailing you a brief survey to learn what FPW history you would like to know more about and how you would like to help our congregation gather, articulate, and share it. The deadline for your response will be May 23rd so that we can share the results with you and plan follow-up discussions in June.
Over the summer, based on all this information, our Working Group will develop a proposal to present to Parish Committee in the fall. We and the Parish Committee will then send you the plan for discussion at a special congregational meeting.
We are excited to carry on the good work that our predecessor task forces have begun and look forward to helping First Parish determine the best ways to Grapple with Our History! If you have questions or comments about our work over the coming months, please contact our point person, Judy Kamm at jbkamm@me.com