wfn.org | Deer Elected at Caucus Meeting

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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 (3174 notes).

Note 3174 by UMNS on Sept. 17, 1996 at 16:25 Eastern (2629 characters).

SEARCH: Deer, NAIC, Native American, caucus, United Methodist, 

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CONTACT:  Ralph E. Baker                      459(10-34-71B){3174}
          Nashville, Tenn. (615) 742-5473           Sept. 17, 1996

New NAIC director pledges to elect
Native American bishop in 2000

by Ginny Underwood* 

     GREENSBORO, N.C. (UMNS) -- The Native American International
Caucus (NAIC) officially elected the Rev. Alvin Deer as executive
director as its first item of business during its annual meeting
here, Sept. 13-15, .
     Deer becomes the first full-time director in the 28-year
history of NAIC.  The caucus is an advocacy group of the United
Methodist Church, working to enhance Native American ministries,
churches and programs worldwide.
     In his first address to NAIC, Deer outlined his plan for the
next quadrennium. "I pledge that I will work, with your support,
to see that the United Methodist Church elects a Native American
bishop in the year 2000. We must be advocates by sensitizing the
world to who we are and we will work to strengthen every local
Native American congregation."
     According to NAIC leaders, Native Americans are the only
ethnic group not represented in the denomination's Council of
Bishops.  Neither of two Native American candidates for bishop,
the Rev. Thom White Wolf Fassett nor the Rev. Marvin B. Abrams,
was elected in the 1996 sessions.  
     Representatives from each jurisdiction organized to form the
six NAIC program committees -- personnel, ministries development,
Family Camp, finance, issues and communications.
     NAIC plans to hold the Native American Family Camp in June
1997 at Albion (Mich.) College.  There also are plans to join the
Native American Comprehensive Plan's mission to train and develop
Native American ministries.
     Another emphasis for the new quadrennium will be revamping
the Echo of the Four Winds newspaper, a publication of the NAIC. 
The issues committee intends to develop resources in the area of
health and wellness and to monitor other issues facing Native
Americans.
     The new NAIC officers are:  chairman, the Rev. Ken Locklear,
Greensboro, N.C.; vice-chairwoman, Vera Sonneck, Lapwai, Idaho;
treasurer, Prentiss Taylor, Saraland, Ala.; secretary, Blair
Gilbert, Pasadena, Md.
                              #  #  #

     * Underwood is director of the Native American Communications
Office of United Methodist Communications in Nashville, Tenn.

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