wfn.org | Panel urges support of Native-American Ministries

[PCUSA NEWS <PCUSA.NEWS@ecunet.org>]

Note #7257 from PCUSA NEWS to PRESBYNEWS:

17-June-2002
GA02046

Panel urges support of Native-American Ministries

by Evan Silverstein

COLUMBUS, OH - The General Assembly Committee on Evangelism and Witness gave its unanimous approval on June 17 to recommendations focusing on Presbyterian Native-Americans, including a call for revitalizing and expanding Native-American ministries at the presbytery and synod levels.

The recommendations came in response to a referral from the 212th General Assembly (2000), which in turn was based on the recommendations of a task force appointed to study Native-American Ministries.

The 212th Assembly accepted the recommendations and referred the report back to the task force for further discussion and for the development of "specific, measurable" recommendations to this year's GA.

Among the recommendations approved by the committee:

* Encouraging every presbytery and synod that includes Native-American congregations to evaluate the potential for revitalizing and expanding Native-American ministry in consultation with such congregations and communities, the Native-American Consulting Committee and appropriate GA entities. 

This includes examining the leadership and financial needs of governing bodies in achieving the goals and objectives set out by PC(USA) policies applicable to Native-American ministry. 

* Encourage the Board of Pensions to consider the urgent pension and other benefit needs of Native-American pastors, and urge the Board and presbyteries to consult together on the benefit needs of Native-American commissioned lay pastors.

* Instruct the General Assembly Council (GAC), in partnership with presbyteries and synods, to make available adequate funding for a churchwide consultation on Native-American Ministries no later than 2004. 

* Review and evaluate church policy on Native-American ministries and developments in such ministries and foster better dialogue between Native-American Presbyterians and middle governing bodies, with a report to go to the 217th General Assembly in 2005. 

* Ask that a implementation of the recommended strategies be presented to the 219th Assembly in 2007, in coordination with the Native-American Consulting Committee and appropriate GA entities.

* Grant an extension for the completion of the Comprehensive Statistics Report until the 216th GA in 2004; the report will be compiled by the PC(USA) Research Services office, in partnership with the Native-American Congregational Enhancement Office of the National Ministries Division.
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