“The Giving of Ourselves” was the theme for the 175th session of The Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference, held June 6-8 at the Northeast Region Center at Preston, Oklahoma. The conference on the importance of hospitality among Indigenous peoples around the world and how OIMC has worked to provide that hospitality to many.
As a part of the recognition of 175 years as an Indian Methodist Conference, delegates recognized the 200th anniversary of the Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church. According to the General Commission on Archives and History, the Methodist quarterly conference licensed John Stewart a “missionary pioneer” in 1818 on lands “allotted to” the Wyandotte by the US government. The following year, the Ohio Conference established an official mission to the Wyandotte. Stewart’s work and example inspired the formation of The Methodist Missionary Society in 1820.
Wyandotte Chief Billy Friend was present to bring greetings and share that history and connection with the United Methodist Church.
The conference brought attention to two areas where Native Americans have been impacted including the recognition of the hundreds of missing and murdered Indigenous women in this country. The conference heard of young women connected to OIMC who are still missing.
The conference was asked to form a task force to look into the recent news that Ft. Sill Military Base may be housing immigrant children who are unaccompanied.
Bethel Hill, one of the oldest churches in OIMC received the One Matters Award from Discipleship Ministries which recognizes churches that are making movement in professions of faith in growth.
Delegates elected two clergy delegates to represent OIMC at General and Jurisdiction Conferences in 2020. David Wilson and Eli McHenry were elected as clergy and Anne Marshall and Josephine Deere were elected as laity representatives.
One Elder was ordained at the conference and two were received as licensed local pastors.
