Monthly Archives: April2018

April 13, 2018 | Oklahoma City

Bishop Jimmy Nunn, episcopal leader of the Oklahoma area, has named the Rev. Bryan Tener as the new Director of Connectional Ministries and Interpretations for The Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference.  The Rev. Tener will take the place of Mrs. Josephine Deere, who is retiring after serving eleven years in the position.

“Josephine has represented the conference at every level of the church with excellence, and she has been a valuable interpreter of Native American culture to people outside the conference,” said Nunn. “Most of all, the love of Jesus Christ shines through her life. I extend deep gratitude for her service.”

The Rev. Tener, a member of the Oklahoma Annual Conference, earned an Associate Degree in Business Administration in 2000 from Western Oklahoma State College. He graduated from Oklahoma City University in 2005 with a B.A. degree in Religion.  In 2009, he earned a Master of Divinity from Vanderbilt Divinity School. Bryan was approved for commissioning in the Oklahoma Annual Conference in 2008 and was ordained Elder in 2012. Bryan is a descendent of the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes.

He has served appointments at Cache First United Methodist Church, Newkirk First United Methodist Church, and Grace United Methodist Church in Oklahoma City. He has been involved in youth camping for several years, most recently leading JEM Camp, Junior High Effectives for Ministry camp offered by the Oklahoma Conference. He has served as chair of the Board of Higher Education and Campus Ministry since 2015. He has written and led many topical studies, written curriculum for district camps, was an advisor for Credo confirmation material from Cokesbury, and had a book published by Abingdon Press, Squeezed: Youth Ministry in Tough Economic Times.

“I am enthusiastic that Bryan Tener will be joining the conference staff in June. Bryan brings the perspective and energy of a younger generation, has demonstrated creative and hope-filled leadership, and is excited to be in ministry in OIMC,” said Nunn.

The Rev. Tener will also serve as pastor at Angie Smith Memorial United Methodist Church and Mayfair Heights United Methodist Church in Oklahoma City effective July 1. Bryan is married to Angela and has two children, Brady and Barrett.

(Oklahoma City) — One of the lead organizers in the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe’s fight against the Dakota Access Pipeline, Phyllis Young, will be a special guest at the 12^th annual Spring Powwow at Oklahoma City University (OCU), Saturday, April 7^th. The powwow will start at 2:00 p.m. in the Freede Fieldhouse on the OCU campus.

The tribe’s opposition to the 1,200-mile pipeline, which they said would destroy sacred burial sites and threaten their water supply, drew worldwide attention in 2016. Thousands of “Water Protectors” gathered in camps near Cannon Ball, North Dakota in protest. The Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference (OIMC) was among organizations that provided support at the camps which included food, gasoline for generators, and paper goods to feed the swelling camp, which ranged from 1,000 to 2,000 people. In addition, the OIMC sent 700 hundred Christmas stockings to the camps along with gloves and coats during the winter.

“Phyllis has a long and profound history of working on and fighting for rights of Native peoples across the country,” said the Rev. David Wilson, Conference Superintendent, Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference and sponsor of the OCU Native American Society which is hosting the powwow.

In addition to the powwow, Mrs. Young will be speaking at Grace United Methodist Church on Sunday, April 8^th at 9:30 a.m.  Grace is located at 6316 N. Tulsa, Ave., in Oklahoma City. She will also speak at Norman First American United Methodist Church Sunday at 3:00 p.m., located at 1950 Beaumont Drive in Norman.

“We are excited that Phyllis will be with us at OCU and at our United Methodist Churches.  We invite everyone to come and hear her story and the continued struggles of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe,” said Wilson. For more information or questions contact the OIMC office at (405)632-2006.