Below are some frequently asked questions about Native American Ministries Sunday. If you have additional questions, please contact us and we will try to answer your question.
What is Native American Ministries Sunday?
When is Native American Ministries Sunday celebrated?
Can our church celebrate NAMS at a different time?
Tell me more about Native American mission programs and why seminary scholarships are so important.
Do you have to live on a reservation or be a member of a tribe to benefit from the offering?
Does any of our offering pay for administrative costs?
What exactly will the Native American Ministries Sunday offering go to?
Can I give online to Native American Ministries Sunday?
Where can I order Native American Ministries Sunday resources?
How much was given to Native American Ministries Sunday in the last 3 years?
What is Native American Ministries Sunday?
Native American Ministries Sunday is one of the six churchwide Special Sundays of The United Methodist Church. Native American Ministries Sunday nurtures mission with Native Americans and provides scholarships for United Methodist Native American seminarians.
When is Native American Ministries Sunday celebrated?
Native American Ministries Sunday is celebrated on the third Sunday of Easter.
Here are the dates in the coming years:
4-6-2008 (Easter – 3-23)
4-26-2009 (Easter – 4-12)
4-18-2010 (Easter – 4-4)
5-8-2011 (Easter – 4-24)
4-22-2012 (Easter – 4-8)
Can our church celebrate NAMS at a different time?
Yes! If your local church needs to celebrate Native American Ministries Sunday on a different, date, that is fine! Don’t let the given dates prohibit your local church from celebrating Native American Ministries Sunday if there is a time conflict.
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Tell me more about Native American mission programs and why seminary scholarships are so important.
The Native American United Methodist Gathering in Tempe, Ariz., for instance, focuses on giving “children a spiritual message—and to help them maintain their culture. We try to give our children guidance and to be examples for them,” the program coordinator explained. “As they become more involved in the church, their voices are heard.”
“I want to be the best minister I can be,” said the Rev. Chebon Kernell, a Native American seminary scholarship recipient. “The best way to do this is through theological education. My hope is for my children to know who they are as Native people, to hold core values and to know it’s OK for them to be what God created them to be.” Already Kernell has served as director of interpretation and programs for the Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference and as pastor of First American UMC, Norman, Okla. Pretty amazing for a young man who set out to become a lawyer!
Do you have to live on a reservation or be a member of a tribe to benefit from the offering?
No, one does not need to live on a reservation to be eligible for a scholarship; however, they must be a member of The United Methodist Church and have tribal affiliation.
Does any of our offering pay for administrative costs?
Each of the ministries that rely on support from the individual offerings contributes collaboratively to the promotion of these six churchwide Special Sundays.
What exactly will the Native American Ministries Sunday offering go to?
Fifty percent of the offering remains in the annual conference to develop and strengthen local Native American ministries. Should no such ministries exist within the conference, the offering is remitted in full to the General Council on Finance and Administration (GCFA). The funds are then distributed equally between the United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry to provide scholarships for American Indians attending the church's schools of theology and the Native American Urban Initiative of the Board of Global Ministries.
Can I give online to Native American Ministries Sunday?
Yes! Follow this link to give to Native American Ministries Sunday, or any other Special Sunday.
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Where can I order Native American Ministries Sunday resources?
Follow this link to order resources for your church to celebrate Native American Ministries Sunday.
How much was given to Native American Ministries Sunday in the last 3 years?
In 2007, $367,261 was given to the Native American Ministries Sunday offering. In 2006, $363,078 was given and $354,522 in 2005.
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