From July 31 to August 3, the Indigenous Justice Ministry Team of the Episcopal Diocese of the Susquehanna co‑hosted, with the Lancaster Mennonite Church community, the annual meeting of the Coalition to Dismantle the Doctrine of Discovery. The Doctrine of Discovery is a philosophical and legal framework dating to the 15th century that gave Christian governments moral and legal authority to invade and seize Indigenous lands and dominate Indigenous peoples. The coalition, led by Co-Founder and Executive Director Sarah Augustine, a Pueblo (Tewa) descendant, calls on the Christian Church to confront the extinction, enslavement, and extraction carried out in the name of Christ on Indigenous lands.
Each year, the coalition brings together advocates, faith leaders, and community partners for four days of learning, collaboration, and spiritual grounding.
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Harrisburg hosted the first two days of this year’s gathering, which began with a tour of the Carlisle Industrial Indian Boarding School. The Carlisle School was the first federally funded, off-reservation boarding school for Native American children forced to abandon their cultures, languages, and traditions under the motto “kill the Indian, save the man.” The Rev. Celal J. Kamran and Senior Warden Karen Love welcomed 55 in‑person participants and 20 online attendees from 20 states, Washington, D.C., and several Canadian provinces. St. Paul’s ECW, led by Delores Lloyd, provided additional support—coordinating meals, logistics, and the steady presence of volunteers.
The Beloved Community Commission of the Episcopal Diocese of the Susquehanna offered essential encouragement and institutional backing, affirming the coalition’s work as part of the wider Church’s ongoing pursuit of justice and reconciliation. The Nathan Bishop Baxter Chapter of the Union of Black Episcopalians also contributed meaningful support, grounding the event in a legacy of Black Episcopal witness and advocacy. Their participation underscored the importance of confronting the Doctrine of Discovery not only as an historical injustice but as an ongoing moral and spiritual challenge intertwined with racial equity and liberation work.
Landisville Mennonite Church in Lancaster hosted the final two days of the meeting, expanding the gathering’s reach and providing space for deeper dialogue, workshops, and communal reflection. The collaboration between the Episcopal Church and the Mennonite Church embodied the spirit of ecumenical partnership, demonstrating how communities of faith can unite across traditions to confront harmful systems and imagine new pathways toward justice.
