Petition Text: 22037-HE-NonDis-O$

Understanding Petition Numbers

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Whereas, the National United Methodist Native American Center (NUMNAC) came about as a vision of the Native American community in 1981; and

Whereas, the General Conference has approved the direction of NUMNAC and referred the funding to various agencies since 1984; and

Whereas, that vision included recruiting, training, and deploying pastoral leadership for local congregations and strengthening local churches; and

Whereas, that vision also included sensitizing The United Methodist Church to the need for Native American ministries and providing a forum for theological reflection among Native American United Methodists; and

Whereas, NUMNAC has provided leadership for the Native American community and has been a critical instrument for Native American ministry since its beginning; and

Whereas, NUMNAC and the needs of the Native American community are more critical than they have ever been, with a Native American population in the U.S. having increased by 39% from 1980 to 1990; and

Whereas, the population of Native American seminary students has increased from 5 in 1992 to 25 in 1995; and

Whereas, the General Board of Higher Education has committed $164,000 to NUMNAC during the next quadrennium to support its work in development of pastoral leadership, continuing education, and theological reflection and research; and

Whereas, the General Board of Global Ministries has committed $160,000 in direct funds and an equivalent amount in a mission position to NUMNAC to support its work in congregational development, family life, and empowerment of Native American youth; and

Whereas, the General Board of Ministries has also committed the resources of the office of Finance and Field Service to engage in a development program to underwrite the work of NUMNAC for the longer term; and

Whereas, the total of this support is $316,000 less than is necessary to support the budget for the 1997-2000 quadrennium; and

Whereas, the survival of NUMNAC through the next quadrennium is in question without the additional support; and

Whereas, NUMNAC has strong support from the United Methodist Native American community; and

Whereas, the Native American Comprehensive Plan assumes the continuation of NUMNAC and has assigned responsibilities to it; and

Whereas, it is imperative that NUMNAC continue in order to give support for future leadership in the Native American community;

Therefore, be it resolved, that the 1996 General Conference fund the National United Methodist Native American Center for the 1997-2000 quadrennium in the amount of $316,000; and

Be it further resolved, that the General Council on Ministries provide the coordinating role for the interagency support of NUMNAC.

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PETS Creator: John Brawn

Petition Text: 22037-HE-NonDis-O$
1996 United Methodist General Conference