wfn.org | [UMNS-ALL-NEWS] UMNS# 426-Pastor challenges Native Americans to use

[NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.ORG>]

Pastor challenges Native Americans to use culture in worship

Jul. 28, 2005

NOTE: A photograph and related story, UMNS story #425, are available at
http://umns.umc.org.

By Edna Steinman*

REDLANDS, Calif. (UMNS) - The hymn "Amazing Grace" is frequently sung at
United Methodist gatherings - but not in seven Native American languages
at one service.

The different versions were sung by representatives of tribes attending
the 2005 National Native American Family Camp, held July 19-23 in
Redlands.

The Rev. Mel Gaines, pastor of the Dallas Indian United Methodist Church
and music leader for the annual camp, spontaneously asked all who knew a
Native American version to come forward. The result was a moving
experience as the participants took turns - as soloists and in small
groups - to sing from memory in their native tongues.

During the morning worship service, the Rev. Gabriel Ward, pastor of the
Body of Christ Church in Thermal, Calif., challenged his listeners by
saying that a blindfolded person attending an Indian church service
would not know he was in an ethnic setting.

"You know immediately if you're in an African-American or Latino
church," he said, citing examples.

Native Americans should incorporate more of their culture and traditions
into their church services, he suggested.

About 200 adults and children from throughout the United States attended
the 20th annual family camp conference, held at the University of
Redlands. "Empowering the Native Family Circle" was the theme of the
2005 gathering, sponsored by the United Methodist Church's Native
American International Caucus.

In addition to the plenary sessions, workshops were provided for the
adult and youth participants. They included "Red Road to Wellbriety,"
led by Connie Falleaf, a member of the Eastern Delaware Tribe of
Oklahoma, designed to bring wholeness to Native American families,
communities and tribal nations; "Worship," offered by the Rev. Shirley
Montoya, pastor of the Patagonia (Ariz.) Methodist congregation; and a
class on "Family Values," financed in part by a grant from the federal
Centers for Disease Control and taught by Mary Helen Deer, former
director of Indian health clinics, and Sandra Medrano, trainer and
consultant from Oklahoma City.

Fulfilling a mandate from the 2004 General Conference, the family camp
included a national listening post, to hear concerns from the local
church, the community and the United Methodist Church. The listening
session was conducted by the Rev. Alvin Deer, executive director of the
Native American International Caucus, and the Rev. Homer Noley, director
of the National United Methodist Native American Center at Claremont
(Calif.) School of Theology.

Bishop Mary Ann Swenson, who leads the church's California-Pacific
Annual (regional) Conference, brought greetings to the conference. She
was introduced by Anne Marshall of Holdenville, Okla., chairwoman of the
board of the Native American International Caucus. The two women both
serve on the denomination's Connectional Table. Marshall is a former
associate general secretary for the United Methodist Commission on
Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns.

*Steinman is a freelance writer and former annual conference newspaper
editor in Redlands, Calif.

News media contact: Linda Green or Tim Tanton, (615) 742-5470 or
newsdesk@umcom.org.

********************

United Methodist News Service
Photos and stories also available at:
http://umns.umc.org

----------------------------------------------------
To unsubscribe from this group, go to UMCom.org, log in to your account,
click on the My Resources link and select the Leave option on the list(s)
from which you wish to unsubscribe. If you have problems or questions, please
write to websupport@umcom.org.

Powered by United Methodist Communications http://www.UMCom.org