wfn.org | Delegates apologize for massacre

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"UNITED METHODIST DAILY NEWS" by SUSAN PEEK on Aug. 11, 1991 at 13:58 Eastern,
about FULL TEXT RELEASES FROM UNITED METHODIST NEWS SERVICE (2894 notes).

Note 2893 by SUSAN PEEK on April 22, 1996 at 22:48 Eastern (1580 characters).

Search:  Sand Creek Massacre Native American Chivington

032 {2896}                               April 22, 1996
General Conference '96

Delegates apologize for 1864 Sand Creek
Massacre led by Methodist lay preacher

     DENVER (UMNS) -- The 1996 General Conference delegation
apologized Mon., April 22, for the deaths of more than 200 Native
Americans caused by a Methodist lay preacher more than 13 decades
ago.

     On Nov. 29, 1864, a Cheyenne village camped on the banks of
Sand Creek in Colorado was attacked by the 1st Colorado Cavalry
led by Col. John Chivington, a Methodist lay preacher. 

     More than 200, mostly women and children, were killed and
mutilated. 

     Ironically, Chivington not only received a commendation for
his attack on these people but was honored both by Coloradans and
Methodists at his death in October 1894 as a hero and pioneer.  

     The Rev. Alvin Deer, pastor of El Reno and Kingfisher United
Methodist Churches in Oklahoma, submitted the resolution asking
for the United Methodist General Conference to apologize for the
massacre and to support a healing service of reconciliation.

The petition was approved and adopted to the general Consent
Calendar and passed with little opposition.

"The United Methodist Church delegation has recognized this was a
tragedy in U.S. history that needed to be addressed," Deer said.
"With the General Conference meeting in Denver, it was the most
appropriate time to deal with the tragedy."

No date has been set for the healing service.
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