Native American Ministries Committee

The mission of the Native American Ministries Committee is to build relationships, including those of healing and trust, with Native Americans in Nebraska through partnerships with Native Americans through denominations, ecumenical and interfaith processes.

Goals and Objectives

1. Support existing ministries and develop new ministries with Native Americans in Nebraska.
A. Help identify resources for funding, technical assistance, staffing, training, and leadership development for our Native American Ministries: Lincoln Indian Community Church; Omaha Indian Ministries; and Peacemaker Initiative of the Northeast Rural Ministries Project.
1. Sustain full funding of the Peacemaker Initiative.
2. Work toward a Native American Ministries in the Northwest Border Area of Nebraska, in the Northwest District.
3. Work with Interchurch Ministries of Nebraska (IMN) toward full-time pastoral support for the Lincoln Indian Community Church.
4. Work through IMN with Omaha Indian Ministries
5. Continue work toward identifying potential emerging NA Ministries.
B. Provide resources, supportive events, and advocacy to nurture and sustain current and emerging leaders in identified Native American Ministries.
1. Support recruitment and training for Native American pastors, missioners, missionaries and Church and Community Workers in the Nebraska Conference.
2. Continue the exploration toward the development of a Native American Faith Community in Nebraska.
C. Continue dialogue and participation in the High Plains Native American Consultation with the Dakotas, Nebraska, Rocky Mountain and Yellowstone Conferences.
1. Plan to participate in the Gathering Event scheduled for Billings, Montana in 2005.
D. Work with existing ministries to get Advance Special status.2. Promote comprehensive educational and cross-cultural experiences for United Methodists in Nebraska in order to expand healing and trust between Native Americans and The United Methodist Church.
A. Promote the Native American Ministries special offering in April 2005.
B. Sponsor a spiritual dialogue event to promote healing and trust.
C. Provide a Native American cultural immersion experience for new Annual Conference Staff and Cabinet.
D. Promote and utilize the gifts of the Native American community to the local churches and Annual Conference.
E. Work with existing Native American Ministries to establish parish partnerships with local congregations in Nebraska.
3. Provide a listening place in order for Native Americans to speak of their own needs and hopes.
A. Alternate committee meeting sites to include all three geographical ministry areas and provide listening time at each session.
4. Promote and utilize the gifts of the Native American community to acquire, develop and make available culturally appropriate resources in working with Native American leadership and local churches.
A. Fund Native American persons to attend leadership development events.
B. Research available culturally appropriate Christian resources for use by Native American leadership and local churches.
5. Advocate for justice issues with Native Americans.
A. Participate with IMN in Grants to American Indians in Nebraska (GAIN) and any Native American Joint Strategy Action Teams (JSAT) successor group.
B. Advocate with Native Americans on health-related issues, especially alcohol and other drug issues.
C. Advocate with Native Americans for the development of long-term funding sources for ministries, for example the development of a foundation to sustain our commitment to Native American Ministries into the 21st Century.