news article

NEJ Native American Ministries Committee meets at the United Methodist Center in Liverpool

October 15, 2019 / By Kae Wilbert, UNY CONAM Chair

Upper New York’s Committee on Native American Ministries (CONAM) hosted the annual meeting of the Northeastern Jurisdiction Native American Ministries Committee (NEJNAMC) Oct 10-12 at the United Methodist Conference Center in Liverpool. Guest speakers Rev. Dr. Thom WhiteWolf Fassett and Dr. Michael Martin brought new ideas, old ideas, common sense and Native traditions to a new level of understanding of the role we as CONAMs do play and potentially play within our communities and churches.  We are challenged to reach out to our church families, Conferences and Native neighbors to bring new awareness and wellbeing, both spiritually and physically.

We also had the opportunity to visit Ska-nonh-Great Law Peace Center in Liverpool.

We feel encouraged, respected, engaged, bonded to one another, a deep awareness of the presence of Creator God and more words that we can’t express yet but will be able to in coming days and weeks as the joy of this time remains within us and grows. The recent meeting of NEJMANC has strengthened and found new awareness of the importance for Native people who worship in the United Methodist Church to spend time together and speak out in our communities about our concerns.  We embrace and celebrate each other in our deep connection to Native heritage as well as UMC worship.

A big shout out to Brooke Conklin, CONAM member, who made 50 beautiful tote bags as gifts to our NEJNAMC friends with ribbons and a pocket with UNY CONAM logo—such generous gesture.