A year ago, the Foundation for Evangelism awarded $10,000 to the Minnesota Conference’s Committee on Native American Ministry (CONAM) to launch Native American ministry circles in five congregations around the state. Last weekend, representatives of the congregations gathered to receive a handmade drum, learn about Native American culture, and receive initial training on how to lead such circles—which revolve around a drum and typically involve singing and storytelling in community.
Your gifts on Native American Ministries Sunday helps support the ministries of the Committee on Native American Ministries in their annual conferences. This offering serves to remind United Methodists of the gifts and contributions made by Native Americans to our society.
In the coming weeks and months, CONAM members will visit each congregation to walk alongside leaders and help them launch an initial circle gathering with Native and non-Native members of their community. This initiative aligns with the Minnesota Conference vision of every church growing in love of God and neighbor and with our shared value of being engaged in the work of justice and reconciliation.
The ultimate goal: “These congregations will offer space for Native American Christian people to come and worship in their own cultural context,” said Rev. Dawn Houser, who chairs CONAM and led the gathering.
CONAM chose the five congregations—Centenary UMC in Mankato, Detroit Lakes UMC, Hamline Church in St. Paul, New City Church in Minneapolis, and Northwood UMC in Esko—based on their proximity to Native American communities, leadership capacity, and willingness to engage in contextual ministry with Native American people.
Participants arrived at Northern Pines Camp in Park Rapids on Friday afternoon and began with a smudging ceremony, which involves the practice of burning various medicinal plants for the purpose of cleaning themselves and connecting with the Creator. Houser taught them about Native American spirituality with some storytelling mixed in. The next day included a water blessing, teaching on Native American theology, and learning about drum protocols and everything participants needed to know to care for their drums. At the end of the day on Saturday, the five drums were lined up and Houser told the representatives of each church: A drum will call to you. Walk to the drum that is calling to you. Amazingly, there was no crossover; each church had selected a different drum to take home. The gathering concluded with attendees learning a drum song.
Houser said if you ask Native American people if they are Christian, many will say yes. Christianity was forced on a large portion of indigenous people through boarding schools. But they don’t necessarily know much about Jesus or the Christian faith. The ministry circles provide an opportunity to invite people to both embrace their Native culture and practice Christianity at the same time. The two aren’t mutually exclusive.
In the past, the Christian Church has labeled Native American spirituality as demonic or heretical, but Houser today senses an openness to it that gives her hope.
excerpt from a story by Christa Meland is director of communications for the Minnesota Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church.
One of six churchwide Special Sundays with offerings of The United Methodist Church, Native American Ministries Sunday serves to remind United Methodists of the gifts and contributions made by Native Americans to our society. The special offering supports Native American outreach within annual conferences and across the United States and provides seminary scholarships for Native Americans.
When you give generously on Native American Ministries Sunday, you equip seminary students who will honor and celebrate Native American culture in their ministries. You empower congregations to find fresh, new ways to minister to their communities with Christ’s love. Give now.
