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MOBILE, Ala. (UMNS) - Pointing to examples of institutional racism and paternalism, Native American United Methodists are declaring "enough is enough!"
During their annual meeting in Mobile, Ala., Sept. 14-16, members of the Native American International Caucus (NAIC) agreed to establish a task force to develop specific strategies for ensuring participation by Native Americans at all levels of church life."
"If you are not at the table your issues will not be addressed," said the Rev. Sam Wynn, a district superintendent in North Carolina and former staff executive of the caucus. Several of the 23 members present expressed concern that the number of Native Americans named to serve on governing boards of churchwide agencies for the next four years is expected to be less than the 1996-2000 quadrennium.
Of particular concern to the caucus is the lack of visibility of Native Americans. As an example, the Rev. Tweedy Sombrero of Globe, Ariz., reported that a registration form for "Exploration," a biennial event sponsored by the church's Board of Higher Education and Ministry in Nashville, Tenn., asked for the ethnic identity of individuals. Most ethnic groups were identified, including Pacific islanders, but Native Americans were absent. To register, they would need to check the "other," category.
"We are not an 'other'," Sombrero declared. Exploration, to be held Nov. 10-13 in Dallas, is aimed at young people considering ordained ministry in the church.
Earlier in the meeting, the Rev. Kenneth Locklear, out-going president of the caucus, shared how he had been involved recently in protesting the "other" category on voter registration forms in South Carolina. He circulated a newspaper article showing one of the tribal chiefs there tearing up his voter registration card in protest. Locklear is the staff executive of the church's Southeastern Jurisdictional Native American Ministries.
The caucus voted to investigate the possibility of protesting the their lack of visibility by selling T-shirts that have the NAIC emblem on the front and "other" on the back. If possible, they will be available in time for use at the Exploration event.
Caucus members expressed disappointment that none of the 13 new U.S. bishops elected in July were Native Americans. Seven of the 13 were African American. The church, with more than 18,000 Native American members, has never had a Native American bishop. "Surely the election of a bishop is achievable," Locklear said. "One is needed to represent our people at that level of the church."
When Native Americans are visible in the culture it is not always a positive image. Caucus members bemoaned their portrayal through logos and sports mascots. The caucus has been particularly outspoken in its criticism of the Cleveland Indians' "Chief Wahoo." When the top legislative body of the church met there in May delegates called for the popular logo to be changed and Native American members marched in protest outside the stadium.
Calling such mascots dehumanizing, Locklear noted that Native Americans are the only ethnic group having to deal with this problem. Caucus members asked the Rev. Alvin Deer, staff executive for the caucus, to write the church's national camping committee asking that they make sure no United Methodist camps use inappropriate Native American names. The group specifically objected to information in a mailing from the Northern Illinois Annual Conference, which offers retreat opportunities at a lodge in Minnesota at a place identified as "Lone Squaw Island."
Bruce Nelson, executive director of outdoor and retreat ministries for the conference, said the state has changed the name from "Lone Squaw" to Nokomos Island to be sensitive to Native American concerns. "Several pieces of publicity materials still in use are several years old and we intend to correct the name with all new publications to reflect that sensitivity," he told United Methodist News Service.
"We need the intervention of God," Locklear declared. "We don't have the numbers in the 8.4-million member church. We have to depend on others and surely we have to depend on God. God will make things happen and things will change." In a rousing sermon during the meeting, Locklear urged Native Americans not to give up the struggle. "There have been efforts to dispose us for more than 500 years but we're still here . . .Don't quit."
It is a common practice for United Methodist groups to invite the mayor, governor or other elected officials to greet them when they hold sessions across the United States. Caucus members voted to ask groups to also seek out indigenous leaders such as tribal chiefs who could welcome them to that specific land.
Anne Marshall, a Native American staff member of the church's Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns in New York, gave a rousing, impromptu speech encouraging Native Americans to combat racism which she said is "very open, not subtle."
"Are we going to continue to endure this?" she asked. "We must come to a point where we say enough is enough." To those who say Native Americans are always taking and not contributing, Marshall said, "We need to remind them that their churches are built on our land."
Marshall urged Native American United Methodists to make a radical shift in the way they deal with the church. "We can't think like we have for the past 200 years. We've got to think for ourselves and decide what is good for us. We don't have to ask permission. We've got to do it ourselves, if not for ourselves, at least for our children."
She also stressed the importance of Native Americans working together and forming partnerships with Native American groups outside the church. "The church has been good at splitting us up but we don't have to agree to be supportive of one another." While she did not mention the Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference (OIMC), a concern of caucus members is action taken last year by that body to withdraw from the caucus. The OIMC has about 100 Native American churches and a total of about 7,500 members.
Echoing Marshall's concern, the Rev. Marvin Abrams, Anaheim, Calif., said, the church "throws bones out there and we fight over them."
Daphine Strickland, Jamestown, N.C., noted how enthusiastically caucus members responded to Marshall's call for action: "That's God saying, 'You're on the right track folks.' "
The caucus voted to hold its next annual family camp at Flathead Lake United Methodist Camp at Elmo, Mont., July 16-20. The theme will be "Honoring Our Journey: From Cradleboard to Cornerstone." Other than tribal dances, the family camp is one of the largest annual gatherings of Native Americans in the United States.
To support the Family Camp, NAIC has established an endowment with a goal of $500,000. It was reported that the fund already has $4,200 in assets. During the meeting in Mobile, caucus members contributed or pledged another $2,025 in honor of the caucus's executive director who launched the endowment and named the fund for him. It will be known as The Alvin Deer National Endowment for the Advocacy of Native American Children, Youth and Families.
During their meeting, caucus members were the guests of the Aldersgate United Methodist Church, near Mt. Vernon, Ala., for dinner and an evening of singing. The 65-year-old, mostly Choctaw congregation is the second largest Native American congregation in the church with about 250 members. Largest Native American congregation in the denomination is Prospect United Methodist Church, a Lumbee congregation at Maxton, N.C.
Elected chairman of the caucus for the next four years was Gary Metoxen of De Pere, Wis. Metoxen, retired from the U.S. Navy, is a businessman and works in the Department of Veteran's Affairs for the Oneida Nation. Other officers are: vice chairwoman, Mabel Cummings, Maxton, N.C.; secretary, the Rev. Tweedy Sombrero, Globe, Ariz.; and treasurer, Odette Wright, Millsboro, Del.
The next annual meeting of the caucus will be held in Albuquerque, N.M., Sept. 13-16, 2001. Hope was expressed that the caucus, working with the New Mexico Annual Conference, might be a catalyst for forming a Native American United Methodist congregation in that city.
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