2008 & 2009
Giving Our Hearts Away: Native American Survival
Nowhere else in the theology and praxis of
mission has there been more change in what was formally called “home mission”
than the ways in which The United Methodist Church relates to Native American
peoples. From a history of collaboration
with war on native peoples and the attempt to eliminate native religion and
culture, the church has moved to a spirit that strives for understanding and
acceptance.
The purposes of
this study are to learn about the inter-relatedness between the indigenous
peoples and their land, to identify selected key issues affecting the Native
Americans in the United States and to examine the root causes of these issues,
to understand and appreciate the “give away” culture of the Native Americans in
the areas of spirituality, ecology, language, story-telling, food, and to lead
the participants to act as responsible citizens and Christians in accompaniment
and solidarity with Native Americans.
Some important issues to be discussed
include myths about Native Americans, sovereignty issues, definition of tribe,
economic development and gaming, unemployment and alcoholism, and the place of
the church in Native American spirituality.
The study will search for appropriate ways
for United Methodists to be engaged in mission with Native Americans, to
determine contemporary needs and how best to meet those needs, and how to
cooperate with tribal structures and be sensitive to cultural issues.