Native American Ministries is a Shared Ministry important to all United Methodists. For centuries, Native Americans have shared their love of God’s earth, their respect for all people, and their desire to live peacefully.
In 1988 to honor that rich heritage the United Methodist General Conference choose to focus on Native American Ministries each April; to remind us all of the gifts and contributions made by Native Americans to our church, and to society.
Navajo, Choctaw, Cherokee, and Sioux are some Native American tribal nations we may recognize; but there are more than 500 tribes in the United States. Locally, 3000 members of the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape tribal nation live in the Bridgeton area. Each tribe has a unique heritage in danger of being lost if we don’t help protect and preserve Native American arts, language, customs and spirituality.
There are no conditions to being a child of God. Celebrating Native American Ministries is our opportunity to affirm some of God’s children. The United Methodist Church feels strongly that contributions made by Native Americans to our church should be cherished; and that all United Methodists should support and promote this important ministry.
United Methodist Shared Ministry funds provide scholarships for Native American United Methodist seminarians, plant Native American United Methodist churches, and cultivate outreach programs in order to initiate and sustain ministries in Native American communities across the United States.
Locally, St. John’s Fordville, in Bridgeton is a Native American United Methodist Church.
