If you’ve been following the issues surrounding Gorham’s E. Howard Tower Clock, you know that it’s become a hot-button topic. What started as a common desire by the Gorham Town Council and First Parish Congregational Church to see the 138- year-old clock keep accurate time has turned into a wide difference of opinion over whether the restored clock should be returned to its historic home or be moved to the new Municipal Center.

On the surface, this looks like an issue that could divide the town. Instead, it seems to have brought to light a disparity between the desire of Gorham’s citizens and what some members of the town council would like to see happen.

Let me first say that the congregation at First Parish simply wants the clock to come back to the church. We believe that the spirit of the gift, and its historical connection to the very center of village life, would be lost if the clock were moved to the Municipal Center. We’ve committed the resources necessary to making a secure space available in our vestibule, but we are also willing to renovate the steeple to protect and preserve the clock, should the citizens want it returned to its true historic home.

In the interest of full disclosure, I am not a citizen of Gorham. I am a member of First Parish, and I serve as the church’s moderator, and chair of the Executive Council. While that may seem prestigious to some, one of the greatest things about the Congregational Church is that it’s the purest form of democracy. I have no more power or influence over policy in the church than any other active member. In fact, councilors Brenda Caldwell, Burleigh Loveitt, Mike Phinney and Jane Willett are also covenant members of First Parish, and every one of them possesses equal power to shape church policy.

Let me be clear, however. Active membership at First Parish does not mean that any of the councilor’ has a conflict of interest when it comes to voting on the disposition of the town clock. None of them has any pecuniary interest in seeing the clock returned (or not returned) to the church. And while there are as many interpretations of “conflict of interest” as there are people to give them, Maine statutes on the issue are clear. As church historian, Councilor Caldwell could have contributed greatly to the discussions at the council meeting on Feb. 6. There’s never been even so much as an impression of impropriety on her part. She’s a thoughtful, fair-minded individual who would have served the town better by participating in the discussions and voting on the agenda item, instead of unnecessarily recusing herself. Likewise, Councilor Willett should never have been so unduly pressured to recuse herself.

So let’s look at the three main issues the town council has stated are their concerns with the placement of the clock:

Public access: It is generally agreed by all that the clock is a valuable historic artifact. It’s also agreed that, once the restoration is complete, the clock will be a beautiful, like-new timepiece, well suited to be put it on display instead of returning it to the steeple. Here’s where opinions diverge.

Some councilors would like to see the clock put on display in the new municipal center. First Parish wants the clock returned to its historic home, and we’ve committed our own funds to secure and protect the clock and to open our historic building to the public during regular business hours. First Parish has been an integral part of Gorham’s history since the cornerstone was laid in1798. It served for many years as the town meeting hall, and it’s home to another precious gift of Toppan Robie, one of a few remaining Paul Revere bells. In fact, when the clock was commissioned by the Honorable Mr. Robie, it was designed not only to run the hands on the faces of the steeple, but also to toll the bell. Fully two thirds of the clock’s mechanism are meant for that purpose, and would sit idle if it were to be separated from its historical partner.The third, and most important opinion, is that of the voters. It would appear that the will of the citizens is to see the clock returned to the steeple. The majority of those who came to the public hearing asked that it be returned to the church. The nearly 200 citizens who signed the advisory petition presented to the council want to see it returned to the church, and many of those expressed a desire to have it back in the steeple. The Gorham Historical Society, a surprisingly large and active group, voted overwhelmingly at their last meeting to have the clock returned to the steeple. Even the family of Toppan Robie himself has stated that they believe the spirit of the gift could only be honored by returning the clock to the steeple.

The separation of church and state and the council’s fiduciary responsibility to see that the clock is preserved and adequately protected against loss: The separation of church and state issue refers to the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the Constitution. I don’t see any way in which returning the clock to the steeple at First Parish puts the council in the position of establishing an official town religion. Council Chairman Norman Justice referred to a Supreme Court opinion, which states that the “statute must not result in excessive entanglement” between the government and any religious body. Well, the council is not deciding on a statute here, and the church has always worked with, and will continue to do what ever we can to work with the town to maintain and preserve this important piece of history. Excessive entanglement in any form, is highly unlikely.

As for the fiduciary responsibilities, First Parish fully recognizes the value of the clock. We have always and will continue to maintain insurance that lists and covers the clock. Our entire building, including the steeple, is protected by an automatic sprinkler system, and we are currently looking at options to maintain better environmental controls around the clock to preserve it as best as is practical, for as long as possible.

More than once, it was mentioned by the councilors that many of the people at the public hearing were members of First Parish, but as councilors, they have a duty to all 14,000 citizens of the town. However, they must act based upon the input they get from the people, who take the time to come out to the public hearings. They should not act based upon what they believe to be the opinions of those folks who didn’t participate in the process.

The congregation at First Parish is proud to have had such a long and vital role in the history of the town of Gorham. We are committed to maintaining, preserving and continuing that history. If the citizens of Gorham wish to see the clock returned to the steeple, we stand faithfully with them.

Mark E. Faunce, who lives in Limington, is moderator of the First Parish Congregational Church in Gorham.