Damariscotta Baptist Church

Marilee A. Harris feels ‘at home’ as pastor of the Damariscotta Baptist Church (DBC) having been introduced to a Christian way of life as a child in her hometown church in nearby Woolwich.  The daughter of Hayden D. Temple, of Woolwich, and the late Florence L. Robinson Temple, Pastor Harris credits her dedicated Sunday school teachers and the staff at Chop Point Camp for sparking her interest in serving Christ during, and after her teenage years.

 

 In her 53 years, Pastor Marilee has developed a strong theological and educational background while serving as a missionary, chaplain, children and youth pastor, school teacher and administrator. After graduating from Morse High School, in Bath, Maine, she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Science and a Masters in the Art of Teaching from Cornell University. She returned to Chop Point Camp and became the director of an After School Program, focusing on “latch-key” children. When Chop Point School opened she taught grades 4-6. Her Christian path led her to Thailand and Bolivia as a missionary where she taught missionary and national children. Her next venture was to earn a Master of Divinity from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California. While in California Marilee served as Children and Youth Pastors of American Baptist Churches, as well as a Chaplain at Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles. It was in California she met and married her husband of 19 years, Val Harris. In 2001, Val and Marilee, along with their two daughters, Lydia and Emily decided to move back to Maine.

 

 

Today the Harris family lives in the church’s parsonage on Main St., Damariscotta, across from the church. Among her varied duties at DBC, Pastor Harris delivers the weekly sermons, visits the sick and shut-ins in the area, and reaches out to the youth and people of all ages in the community. Her hours in the church office are by appointment.

As the first woman pastor of the 195-year-old church, Pastor Harris has been warmly welcomed at DBC. She invites everyone to attend weekly services and Sunday school classes.