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Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference Welcomes New Bishop


On November 7th the Oklahoma Indian Missionary officially welcomed and installed Bishop Robert Hayes Jr. Bishop Hayes was elected and appointed to the Oklahoma Area this past July during the South Central Jurisdictional Conference.
 

Nearly four hundred OIMC members representing every region and dozens of churches attended the event, which was held in the Angie Smith Chapel on the campus of Oklahoma City University.
 

Prior to the service a meal was shared, by all those in attendance, in honor of Bishop Hayes and his family. The Oklahoma City area metro churches assisted tremendously with the event by preparing many of the dishes that were served and by providing the volunteers to assist people as they came through the lines. Billy Hooton UMC, Angie Smith UMC, Mary Lee Clark UMC, Norman First American UMC, and Nagawee UMC each contributed to the evening.
 

This service marked the first time the OIMC conducted it’s very own installation service, which included conference leaders and members from all across the state.
 

“It was great to have the opportunity to welcome Bishop Hayes and his family to OIMC through this particular service,” Wilson said. “It was important for the people of the OIMC to show Bishop and his family who we are as Native people through our fellowship and worship.”
Members of the conference who participated in the service of worship were asked to dress in their tribal regalia. In addition individuals representing various ministries of the conference were selected to present Bishop Hayes with the signs of the Episcopal Ministry. Rae Kernell, Seminole of Billy Hooton, was selected to represent youth, Kaycee Kernell, Seminole-Creek of Pawnee Indian was selected to represent the Children; while Jason and Lynetta Eyachabbe of Norman First American represented young adults.
 

Female youth representatives from each region also had the opportunity to perform the Lord’s prayer in sign language. Each youth was dressed in tribally distinct regalia representing primarily the Choctaw, Kiowa, Osage, and Delaware Tribes.
 

“It was important for all of us as members of this conference to demonstrate to Bishop Hayes who we are as Native people and as United Methodists.” stated Rev. Chebon Kernell, Director of Interpretation and Promotion.
 

Also during the service blankets, were given to Bishop Hayes, his son Ryan and wife Dee, as a gesture of appreciation as they begin their ministry in the Oklahoma area.
 

The sermon for the evening was given by Bishop Hayes. “We can there, from Here!” was the title of the words of inspiration that was given by the Bishop. In his sermon Bishop Hayes expressed his regret that at the last Council of Bishops meeting there was no Native Bishop to speak on behalf of Indigenous peoples of this country. In addition, Bishop Hayes stressed that there is indeed a brighter day ahead for the people of the Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference.
 

“On behalf of the conference we want to thank every one who attended and helped out with the evening” stated Rev. Wilson.
“I was overjoyed at how many people from across the conference came to the event. We planned for 200-250 persons and we estimate that at least 400 persons were present.” said Wilson.
 

“I received an e-mail from a lay person in the OIMC who told me how great the event was. She said the event was ‘very much us’ , as people of the Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference.