wfn.org | Native American board redirects fellowship money

[NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.UMC.ORG>]

Feb. 9, 1999	Contact: Linda Green*(615)742-5470*Nashville, Tenn.
10-34-71B{075}

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (UMNS) - The governing members of the churchwide plan for
United Methodist Native American ministries have reversed a decision made
last fall to establish a fellowship aimed at helping develop new Indian
congregations.

At their Feb. 4-7 meeting, the 22 board members of the Native American
Comprehensive Plan (NACP) redirected $30,000 that had been approved for a
native person to research, develop and revitalize Native American
congregations. Instead, board members voted to identify 10 native pastors by
April to go through a series of classes on developing and strengthening
Indian congregations. The sessions will be led by United Methodist Bishop
Bruce P. Blake of the Oklahoma Area and held this fall in Dallas.

The board rescinded its earlier action in order to have more impact on
Native American congregations, according to the Rev. David Wilson, who is
both plan secretary and chairman of the leadership committee. Board members
agreed there is a greater need for training 10 native pastors in
congregational development than for granting a fellowship to one person, he
said. After training, the pastors will serve as consultants to help other
native congregations strengthen their ministries.

"Local churches respond better to a pastor who does effective work in
congregational development," said Blake, who is also a member of the plan's
congregational development committee. "I am excited about the possibility of
being part of a process where Native Americans will teach other Native
Americans how to do the work of ministry."

The NACP emphasizes congregational and leadership development, Native
American spirituality and native involvement in the total life of the United
Methodist Church. The task force's goal is to help United Methodists view
Indians as partners in ministry and no longer as a mission of the church.
The church's General Conference, its top lawmaking body, mandated the plan
in 1992 and continued it in 1996.	

During the board meeting, members discussed how Native American ministries
would continue to be implemented if the team studying the future direction
of the denomination recommends discontinuing the plan. The 38-member
Connectional Process Team (CPT) was created by the 1996 General Conference
to "manage, guide, and promote a transformational direction" for the
denomination. It will make its report to the 2000 General Conference.

"We are at a crucial point in the life of the NACP," said the Rev. Sam Wynn,
plan chairman. The plan has been responsive to the needs of Indian
congregations and has made inroads in leadership development through the
Native American ministry committees of annual conferences. The committees
are "the vital link to more effective and creative native ministries," he
said.

The board "is pleasantly surprised" at the impact the NACP is having, Wynn
said. "We feel very strongly that our task has not completely been
accomplished and the NACP has the potential to transform Native American
ministries for the United Methodist Church as we presently know them."

NACP Executive Director Ann Saunkeah wants to steer more native youth and
young adults toward ministries in the church. "We need to bring them past
being only involved in Native American ministries (and) provide avenues for
them to develop the skills that will enable them to become leaders in the
United Methodist Church," she said.

In other action, plan members conditionally granted more than $38,000 for
three efforts designed to enhance Native American ministries on reservations
and in rural areas. The projects will receive the money after a visit by
members of the plan's congregational development committee. 

Grants from the plan's Rural/Reservation Initiative were approved for
Nanticoke Indian Mission United Methodist Church, Millsboro, Del., $10,000;
Mississippi United Methodist Native American Parish, Philadelphia, Miss.,
$15,000; and Rockingham District Native American Cooperative Ministry
Project, Pembroke, N.C., $13, 334.

Board members also:
*	recommended continuing the NACP into the 2001-2004 quadrennium;
*	finalized plans for an April 30-May 2 event for annual conference
committees on Native American ministries in Tulsa, Okla.;
*	planned for an Oct. 29-31 Native American Lay Speaking School to be
held at Lake Junaluska, N.C.; and
*	planned for a Native American School of Evangelism for Indian clergy
and lay people who are leaders in the church to be held in March 2000.
	
The board's next meeting will be Aug. 20-21 in Des Moines, Iowa.

# # #

______________
United Methodist News Service
http://www.umc.org/umns/
newsdesk@umcom.umc.org
(615)742-5472