50% of donations to Native American Ministries Sunday remain in local annual conferences?
Half of the donations collected remain within the Annual Conference to provide hope to children and youth, hope for a brighter future in impoverished communities and a voice to those who have felt voiceless for years. Almost all United Methodist Conferences have a Committee on Native American Ministries (CONAM). These committees seek to advocate for ministry with and by Native Americans to share the diverse culture, history and traditions of Native peoples. The committees determine the distribution of the Native American Ministries Sunday offering, coordinate the promotion of that Special Sunday, and monitor Native American ministries within the Annual Conference.
ABOUT NATIVE AMERICAN MINISTRIES SUNDAY (NAMS)
Native American Ministries Sunday serves to remind United Methodists of the gifts and contributions made by Native Americans to our society. With more than 20,000 Native Americans within the denomination, this special Sunday helps to ensure that Native American United Methodist leaders are recognized. It was officially recognized in 1988 and has been celebrated on the 3rd Sunday of Easter since 1989. An offering is taken on this Special Sunday to develop and strengthen Native American ministries in the Annual Conferences, Native American rural, urban, reservation ministries and communities relating to the General Board of Global Ministries. It also provides scholarships for Native Americans attending United Methodist schools of theology distributed by the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry.
