The Repudiation of the Doctrine of Discovery

A Biblical Reflection

As part of the implementation of the General Synod 29 resolution, the joint working group of Council for American Indian Ministries (CAIM) and Justice and Witness Ministries (JWM) offer this resource for our churches to take up with prayer. To download the study, click HERE. Additional video resources:
 
For an introduction to the topic, see the video clip "Discovered, or Stolen?" For the history of the Doctrine of Discovery, see here for a 18-min. presentation by Dr. Roxanne Gould, All Nations Church UCC, Minneapolis, MN. See the same video (starting at the 18:40 mark) for Doctrine of Discovery and being a "pilgrim" today, a 10-min. mediation by the Rev. Emily Goldthwaite Fries.

Many Americans grow up learning that this continent was “discovered” by Christopher Columbus. The concept of discovery, as if the land was empty prior to arrival and its indigenous inhabitants were somehow “less than” the explorers is, at its heart, racism and cultural superiority. 

The doctrine of discovery, a concept of public international law expounded by the United States Supreme Court in a series of decisions, originated from various church documents in Christian Europe in the mid-1400s to justify the pattern of domination and oppression by European monarchies as they invasively arrived in the Western hemisphere.  It theologically asserted the right to claim the indigenous lands, territories, and resources on behalf of Christendom, and to subjugate native peoples around the world.

The U.S. Supreme Court used the doctrine to assert that the United States, as the successor of Great Britain, had inherited authority over all lands within our claimed boundaries. This decision allowed our government to legally ignore or invalidate any native claims to property and resources. To this day courts continue to cite this legal precedent. It is still being used by courts to decide property rights cases brought by Native Americans against the U.S. and against non-Natives.

The repudiation of the Doctrine of Discovery by General Synod 29 provides an invaluable teaching moment for our congregations to understand systemic and continuous impact of racism on the daily lives of indigenous peoples in the U.S.

Learn more about the Doctrine of Discovery

What is the Doctrine of Discovery?

The discovery concept has basically has two separate references. Theologically, it provided the spiritual rationale for Europeans since the times of the Crusades to conquer and confiscate other lands, including what is now the United States. There were papal documents which laid the groundwork that, later, Protestants adopted. It treated the indigenous peoples as if they were animals; they had no (European) title to the land on which they lived. Thus, the Church justified removing and killing them. 

Legally, the discovery concept was written into United States law as a doctrine to deny land rights to American Indians, through the Supreme Court case known as Johnson v. McIntosh in 1823. The decision stripped American Indians from the right of their own independence, providing a rationale for taking land away from the indigenous peoples, with the support of United States federal law. As a concept of public international law, it continues to be cited as recently as 2005. The United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues noted that the Doctrine of Discovery “was the foundation of the violation of their (Indigenous peoples) human rights."

Continuous Impacts

Excessive poverty, teenage suicides that outpaced all other ethnicities, extreme incidences of Type II diabetes, unemployment rates that rank among the highest – these are but a few of the contemporary cultural, communal, and individual damages experienced by indigenous peoples in the U.S., due to the generational impact resulted from the legacy of the Doctrine of Discovery.

UCC Perspectives on the Doctrine of Discovery

• Witness for Justice: Doctrine of Discovery
  July 9, 2012
• The Doctrine of Discovery: Why it still matters today
  November 2, 2013
• Rethinking Columbus Day according to the Revised Common Lectionary, Year A
  October 12, 2014

On December 14th, 2012, the community in which I serve was plunged into trauma and grief by the events at Sandy Hook Elementary School. The cries of a heartbroken world rose up as twenty children and six educators were lost in a horrific event of gun violence. Many UCC clergy and congregations reached out to our congregation here in Newtown offering spiritual, emotional and various forms of tangible support.

One UCC laywoman who telephoned me soon after the event commented, “Things like this just should not happen.” But Sandy Hook happens every week in America. In fact, it happens several times over. Every week in the United States more than 50 of our children and youth die due to gun violence and many dozens more are injured. Most of us just aren’t paying attention.

That’s why I want to invite you, my fellow UCC brothers and sisters, to help one another and our nation to “pay attention.” Please join me in taking part in the Gun Violence Prevention Sabbath sponsored by Faiths United to Prevent Gun Violence, which is scheduled for the weekend of December 14-18. Commit yourself and your community to pray about, learn about and act upon an issue that is claiming far too many of our fellow citizens.

On that weekend, please remember my beloved Newtown community but also remember and honor all of the precious lives lost to gun violence. (Since President John F. Kennedy was shot, more US citizens have died in our homes, in our schools and on our streets than have died in ALL of our wars - Revolutionary through Afghanistan/Iraq - combined.)

Friends, this issue of justice reaches to the very core of our faith. According to a recent Gallup poll, 60% of all people who have recently purchased a gun listed “personal safety” as the reason for their purchase. However, statistics from the Center for Disease Control tell us that a gun in the home is 22 times more likely to be used in a homicide, injury, assault or suicide than to be used to defend oneself. The gun promises safety but far more often delivers grief.

For people of faith this is not Second Amendment issue, it is a Second Commandment crisis.

The near infatuation with the gun is moving dangerously close to becoming a full-blown worship of a false idol. We live in a time when common sense gun safety legislation - like the strengthening of our national background check system cannot pass Congress – even through nearly 90 percent of our citizens support such a law. We have allowed fear and apathy to rule when it comes to guns in America. We have allowed the status quo to become perfectly acceptable. As a result, every year 30,000 precious lives - each one created in God’s image - are added to a tally that is already far too high.

On the weekend of December 14-18 let us commit ourselves to another way of living – let us trust that “perfect love casts out all fear.” And let us follow in the way of the One we call the Prince of Peace.

Rev. Matt Crebbin
Sr. Minister
Newtown Congregational Church, UCC
Newtown, CT

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Visions of Authorized Ministry: Present and Future - AM21 Power Point Presentation 

Engaging Spirituality: Faith and the Future - A Survey of Young Adults 

2015 Faith Communities Today National Survey of Congregations: Preliminary Findings

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Multiply-Affiliated Congregations in the United Church of Christ

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Innovation and Inspiration: What's New in the UCC? - A resource of the CASA Ministry Team

United Church of Christ Committee on Ministry Research Report - A resource of the MESA Ministry Team

Reports from Center for Progressive Renewal Resources

Meeting & Measuring: Trends within the United Church of Christ's New Ministries & Communities - NEW!!

Disaster Recovery Northwest Florida (Walton)

Return to this entry after your trip to share experiences.

Contact:  Gabe Tischler, Catholic Charities of Florida
    Emergency Management Specialist

Email:  gtischler@flacathconf.org 

Phone: 850.443.2996

Website:  http://waltonltro.org/ or  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hammers-and-Hearts/183369785108668   or  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Catholic-Charities-of-Florida/478765615546909

The Disaster Event:  Tropical Storm Andrea came ashore in Northwest Florida on July 2, 2013.  It brought heavy winds and rain as far inland as Washington county.  For the next three days, the storm produced record rainfall in Washington, Bay and Walton Counties, with Washington County receiving close to to 20 inches of rain in less than 48 hours.  The large amount of rainfall caused flooding throughout the three counties.  The heavy winds broke branches off of trees, causing roof damage to homes.  As the ground became more saturated by the continuous rains, trees began to fall over, creating further damage to homes.  To date over 40 inches of rain has been recorded in the City of Vernon in Washington County.  County Emergency Management began receiving calls from homeowners who sustained damages to their homes, and 150 homes have been identified in the three counties, as needing assistance with repairs.  FEMA is not providing any individual assistance to disaster survivors, therefore all of the recovery efforts are handled by faith-based organizations.

Project/Focus:  Repair/Rebuild homes.  Roofing in Washington county is pertinent.  Gutting homes, replacing insulation, sheet rock repair and painting, flooring and other interior work also needed.

Educational/Advocacy Components:

• Preparation for the trip: "Mission Trips That Matter" by Don C. Richter, Upper Room Books
• On-Site Reflection:  "Meeting God in the Ruins: Devotions for Disaster Volunteers" Free copies may be ordered from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America by calling 800.638.3522 ext. 2580 (ISBN 6-0001-6788-1); pay shipping only.
• Follow-Up Action:  Help your local community prepare for possible disaster and response.  Be sure your congregation has a plan in case of local disaster (View sample plan).  Get to know your UCC Conference Disaster Coordinator and stay involved.

Time:  Arrive Sunday afternoon and depart Saturday morning.  Work Monday - Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  Work is expected to continue through June 30, 2013.

Accommodations:  Housing for groups provided at local churches in one of the three counties; this is arranged through  Hammers and Hearts.  Cots and kitchen access provided.  Groups bring own bedding and prepare own meals.  (Some meals maybe provided by local churches.)  Showers, bathrooms, and lounge room for meetings available in church buildings.

Cost:  $10/day/person or $50/week/person.  Costs for case management, building materials, tools, and construction supervision provided through the local long-term recovery committee.  Your donations to UCC One Great Hours of Sharing® help make possible the local work of the Long-Term Recovery Committee.

Minimum Age:  18 years for roof-work; 16 years for interior and groundwork.

Group Size:  50 Maximum 

Adult to Youth Ratio:  1:8  Each group should include a ration of at least 18 of skilled construction persons able to coordinate and teach others for each group.  Long Term Recovery committee provides general Construction Coordinator and materials through Hammers and Hearts who will provide construction and volunteer scheduling, coordination and housing arrangements in Walton, Washington or Bay County.

Time:  November 3, 2013 through March 2014

Tools:  Groups should bring standard carpentry tools (hammers and cordless screw drivers, etc.) No special tools will be required.  A majority of the work will be done on mobile homes.  Specific questions can be directed to Hammers and Hearts the Volunteer Coordinators upon registration.

• Main Page   
• List by State
• List by Focus   
• List by Site Name (Alphabetical)
• List by Group Size
• List by Minimum Age
• Mission Trip Planning Ideas
• Mission Trip Resources
• Commissioning & Covenant Services
• Welcome

Listing in Alphabetical Order

• Alderson Ministerial Association  (West Virginia)
• AMEN St. Louis  (Missouri)
• Annunciation House (Texas)
• Appalachia Service Project, Inc. (Kentucky)
• Appalachia Service Project, Inc. (North Carolina)
• Appalachia Service Project, Inc. (Tennessee)
• Appalachia Service Project, Inc. (Virginia)
• Appalachia Service Project, Inc. (West Virginia)
• Appalachian South Folklife Center (West Virginia)
• Back Bay Mission (Mississippi)
• Bethlehem Farm (West Virginia)
• Border Community Alliance (Arizona)
• BorderLinks (Arizona)
• Border Servant Corps (New Mexico)
• Blue Springs Terrace (Missouri)
• Broad Street Ministry Youth Initiative (Pennsylvania)
• Camp Courageous of Iowa (Iowa)
• Camp Noah (Texas)
• Columban Mission Center (Texas)
• Craddock Center (Georgia)
• Deep Roots at Chairvaux Farms (Maryland)
• Disaster Recovery (Northwest Florida)
• Disaster Event (Florida)
• Disaster Recovery (Texas)
• Discovering Opportunities for Outreach and Reflection (California)
• Discovering Opportunities for Outreach and Reflection (Colorado)
• Discovering Opportunities for Outreach and Reflection (Florida)
• Discovering Opportunities for Outreach and Reflection (Georgia)
• Discovering Opportunities for Outreach and Reflection (Illinois)
• Emmaus Homes, Inc. (Marthasville & St. Charles) (Missouri)
• Friends of HEPAC (Arizona)
• Fresno Interdenominational Refugee Ministries (FIRM) (California)
• Fuller Center for Housing (Florida)
• Fuller Center for Housing (Georgia - Americus)
• Fuller Center for Housing (Georgia - Macon)
• Fuller Center for Housing (Georgia - Atlanta)
• Fuller Center for Housing (Georgia - Albany)
• Fuller Center for Housing (Indiana)
• Fuller Center for Housing (Illinois)
• Fuller Center for Housing (Kentucky)
• Fuller Center for Housing (Louisiana, Hammond)
• Fuller Center for Housing (Louisiana, Shreveport)
• Fuller Center for Housing (Louisiana, Webster Parish)
• Fuller Center for Housing (Missouri)
• Fuller Center for Housing (New York)
• Fuller Center for Housing (Idaho)
• Good Works, Inc (Ohio)
• Harvest of Hope (Various Locations)
• H.O.M.E.S. (Housing Oriented Ministries Established for Service) (Kentucky)
• Habitat for Humanity, York (Pennsylvania)
• Habitat for Humanity, San Luis Valley (Alamosa) (Colorado)
• Heifer International - Heifer Ranch (Arkansas)
• Henderson Settlement (Kentucky)
• Hiram Farm Living and Learning Community (Ohio)
• Iglesia Luterana Cristo Rey (Texas)
• Johns River Valley Camp (North Carolina)
• JOIN (Oregon)
• Just Living Farm (Washington)
• Koinonia Partners (Georgia)
• La Puente, Service Opportunities (Colorado)
• Memphis Freedom Journey (Tennessee)
• Menaul School, Albuquerque (New Mexico)
• Morgan Scott Project (Tennessee) 
• North Street Mission (Ohio)
• Old First Reformed Church (Pennsylvania)
• Project Hospitality, Inc. (New York)
• Providence Experience (Rhode Island)
• Rauschenbusch Metro Ministries (New York)
• RE-MEMBER (South Dakota)
• Reach Beyond Mission (District of Columbia)
• Reach Beyond Mission (Texas)
• Rockford Workcamps (A Project of Rockford Urban Ministries) (Illinois)
• Sanctuary One (Oregon)
• Shannondale Community Center (Missouri)
• Southwest Good Samaritan Ministries (Texas)
• Simply Smiles, Inc (South Dakota)
• Society of St. Andrew (Various locations)
• Sunset Gap Community Center (Tennessee)
• The Good Shepherd UCC (Arizona)
• The Craddock Center (Georgia)
• United Church Outreach Ministry (UCOM) (Michigan)
• Urban Mission Experience-St. Louis (Missouri)
• Urban Mission Inn (Missouri)
• Washington United Church of Christ (Ohio)
• Yakama Christian Mission (Washington)
• Youth Service Opportunities Project (YSOP)  (District of Columbia)
• Youth Service Opportunities Project (YSOP) (New York)

• Main Page   
• List by State 
• List by Focus 
• List by Site Name (Alphabetical)
• List by Group Size
• List by Minimum Age
• Mission Trip Planning Ideas
• Mission Trip Resources
• Commissioning & Covenant Services
• Welcome

Listing By  Minimum Age

No Minimum Age:

• La Puente, Service Opportunities (Colorado)
• Koinonia Partners (Georgia)
• Camp Courageous of Iowa (Iowa)
• H.O.M.E.S. (Housing Oriented Ministries Established for Service) (Kentucky)
• AMEN St. Louis (Missouri)
• Blue Springs Terrace (Missouri)
• Shannondale Community Center (Missouri)
• Washington United Church of Christ (Ohio)
• Menaul School (NM)
• Morgan-Scott Project for Cooperative Christian Concerns (TN) 
• Yakama Christian Mission (Washington)
• Fresno Interdenominational Refugee Ministries (FIRM) (California)
• Hiram Farm & Learning Community (Ohio)
• Just Living (Washington)
• Friends of HEPAC (Airzona)
• Good Shepherd UCC (Arizona)
• Society of St. Andrew (Various Locations)
• Harvest of Hope (Various Locations)