OIMC Holds 164th Annual Conference Session
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- Hundreds of Native American United Methodists converged outside of Anadarko, Oklahoma, for the annual meeting of the Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference of The United Methodist Church, which is comprised of 89 Native churches in Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas, June 8-11, 2006.
Delegates to the churches met to discuss the business of the conference, and to celebrate accomplishments through worship and fellowship. The conference opened with a procession of tribal flags from the state of Oklahoma, which represented the membership of the Methodist Conference.
Resident Bishop, Robert E. Hayes, Jr., challenged the delegates to share the good news of what happened over the four day annual conference.
“What happened here can’t stay here,” Bishop Hayes said. “When people ask what happened at annual conference, we must tell them about what we have done and what we will continue to do,” he said.
Delegates celebrated many accomplishments over the past year, including the formation of new fellowships in native communities in Oklahoma and Kansas, said the Rev. David Wilson, Conference Superintendent.
Wilson reported that new fellowships are now formed in Hulbert, OK, Durant, OK, North Oklahoma City, and a revitalized fellowship at Kahbeah Chapel, located on the Kickapoo Reservation at Horton, KS.
“We are excited that there continues to be possibilities for new ministries across our conference,” Wilson said. “There continues to be a great need for new ministries in many places across our conference, and the conference is thankful that we have been able to be present in these locations.”
It is hoped that the fellowships will eventually be chartered as United Methodist churches in the near future, Wilson said.
Delegates celebrated financial accomplishments, including their payment of 100 percent of its’ world service apportionments, which supports missions and ministry across the world, Wilson said. This was the eighth year in a row that the conference has paid 100 percent.
A report of accomplishments regarding the conference’s response to those affected last year by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita was presented, which highlighted the eight volunteer work teams that went to Mississippi and to the United Houma Nation in Louisiana.
Disaster Response Director, Phillis McCarty applauded the teams that went to both places to assist with those in need. She reported that there remains much to be done with those areas, including a continued response to the United Houma Nation. A team leaders training is scheduled for the fall for persons who will lead teams to continue with the rebuilding efforts.
Mrs. McCarty also reported that the conference is working with United Methodist Committee on Relief to secure a grant for the United Houma Nation to get a staff person employed to work with the disaster response.
A special service was held on Friday night, commemorating the 50th clergy women in the conference led the service, recognizing the contributions that anniversary of full clergy rights for women in The Methodist tradition. Twenty-onenative clergy women have made to the Church.
Delegates recognized persons such as the Rev. Lois Glory Neal, who was the conference’s first Native American female seminary graduate and the first Native American female superintendent for the entire denomination.
Delegates passed a resolution, affirming its commitment to taking intentional steps to affirm the use of tribal language in the conference through tribal hymns, which comprise a large part of the worship in OIMC churches. The resolution was presented by Dr. Richard Grounds, a member of Pickett Chapel UMC and active participant in the retention of tribal languages across the state.
The resolution calls for the conference to find ways to encourage the use of tribal language in the churches through prayer, worship, recordings and preservation of tribal hymns.
Time will be set aside at the 2007 annual conference session to highlight a tribal singing competition time for the children and youth in OIMC churches.
The OIMC represents the largest concentration of Native American United Methodists in the entire country. This was the 164th gathering of the historic Indian Missionary Conference, which began among the Cherokees, Creeks and Choctaws.