Release #030 {2894}April 22, 1996
DENVER (UMNS) -- The Native American Comprehensive Plan was approved by the United Methodist Church's top legislative body, pending approval of its budgetary implications, as in the same session here April 22, three other ethnic plans were adopted, also pending provision for their financial support.
The delegates also approved, pending consideration of the budgetary implications, continuation of the National Plan for Hispanic Ministries and a proposal for providing resources in languages used by Asian-Americans.
The 20-member task force on the Native American Comprehensive Plan (NACP) requested the 1996 General Conference delegates support continuation of the comprehensive plan through the 1997-2000 quadrennium.
The NACP is composed of four elements: the first represents the north -- symbolizing power, associated with denominational presence; second is the west -- religious heritage, signifying Native American spirituality; third is the south -- healing, representing the congregational development component; and fourth is the east -- new life, representing leadership development.
According to the Rev. Sam Wynn, Chair of the NACP, the plan is helping the United Methodist Church reach grass roots Native American ministries. "A major emphasis of the plan is to strengthen rural and reservation ministries," Wynn said.
"We hold our meetings in areas where we can hear, first-hand, the needs and issues of Native American ministries and through the plan's four components offer them hope for a brighter future, new dreams and new life."
Throughout the 1992 quadrennium the NACP launched several programs including a rural/reservation initiative, training events for rural chaplains, a denominational presence campaign to help every annual conference establish a Committee on Native American Ministries and held forums to discuss Native American spirituality.
The NACP task force is requesting $1.2 million to continue programs into next quadrennium.
In other business the General Conference rejected a proposal that would have the Board of Pension and Health Benefits make health coverage for extended family and domestic partners to those bodies of the church that wish to offer it.
A constitutional amendment to allow annual (regional) conferences of the church to use structures other than the mandated structures in the Book of Discipline to meet their area's needs was passed but, as with all constitutional amendments, will require approval by two- thirds of the aggregate total vote of all the annual conferences before becoming church law. Another amendment would add the chair of the annual conference college student organization to the list of officers who make up the annual conference.
Delegates also defeated a proposal to have presidents of the Council of Bishops serve a four-year term free of the responsibilities of an episcopal area. Several items were referred including further consideration of adding deaconesses as voting members of the annual conference.
-- Ginny Underwood and Joretta Purdue
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