At the 2012 General Conference in Tampa, Florida, delegates will participate in “An Act of Repentance toward Healing Relationships with Indigenous Peoples.” The service is intended to begin the process of reconciliation between The United Methodist Church and indigenous peoples. It will take place on Friday, April 27, at 7:30 p.m.
Because this is an historic event, the office of Connectional Ministries, the Committee on Native American Ministries, and the North Carolina Conference have arranged to send 30 persons from the 13 Native American churches in the conference to Tampa to witness and participate in this historic time in the life of The United Methodist Church.
This event will be shown live, via the Internet, on the evening of April 27 at Sandy Plains UMC in Pembroke. The Rev. Carol Goehring, director of Connectional Ministries, the Rev. Gregg Presnal, pastor of Sandy Plains UMC, the Rev. Dr. Jimmy Cummings, pastor of Beauty Spot UMC, the Rev. Dr. Samuel Wynn, Fayetteville District superintendent, and many others, will be present to celebrate with the Native American community this special time of praise and worship, and a service of Holy Communion. There will be testimonies and an historical narrative of where Native Americans have come from as a people and where God is taking them as a community united. This gathering will begin at 6:30 pm.