On December 18, 2025, the Lumbee Tribe received full federal recognition as the Lumbee Fairness Act was signed into law. This law grants long-overdue federal benefits to the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina that every other federally recognized tribe receives. The Lumbee are the 575th Federally Recognized Tribe.

Rev. Mattheue B. Locklear, pastor of First United Methodist Church in Pembroke and Chairperson of the NC Conference Committee on Native American Ministries, said, “We give thanks to God for the passage of the Lumbee Fairness Act into Federal law. It gives Native Americans all along Eastern North Carolina great hope, solidarity, and belief that other state recognized tribes will become Sovereign Tribal Nations, too.”

Bishop Connie Mitchell Shelton said, “We celebrate the faith and perseverance of the Lumbee people who, after over a century of denied recognition, receive their long-overdue federal benefits. The Great Spirit inspired generations of Lumbee people who fought for this recognition. The Lumbee people, made in the image of the Creator, have much to teach all of God’s people.”

Celebration Event

A celebration of this historic event will be hosted by the Lumbee Tribe and the Lumbee Regional Development Association (LRDA) on February 5, 2026, 11 am – 7:30 pm at the LRDA Office Complex Field, 636 Prospect Road, Pembroke, NC. The People’s Table event will feature community leaders, craft vendors, food trucks, and a night of worship to celebrate the Lumbee as the 575th federally recognized tribe.

Rev. Douglas M. Locklear, pastor of Ashpole Center United Methodist Church in Rowland, who served 14 years as a Lumbee Tribe staff person, said, “It is a great time in history for the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, People of The Dark Water. Finally, the signing of the bill to federally recognize the Lumbee Tribe truly reflects the foundation laid by our ancestors. Oh, how I wish they were here to celebrate with us. Now, let me share this in a spiritual reminder about 575…5 is for God’s Grace for His people, 7 represents completeness, and 5 is God’s Grace toward the Lumbee People…to God be the Glory.”

Background

In 1885, North Carolina formally recognized the Lumbee Tribe. Three years later, the Tribe began to seek federal recognition. Rev. Doctor Fuller Lowry, who pastored all of the Indian churches at one time or another, was the author of and a political leader for the Lumbee Recognition Bill in 1953. On June 7, 1956, Congress enacted the Lumbee Act at the height of the Indian termination policy era, which granted the Lumbee federal recognition but prohibited them from receiving any of the rights and benefits associated with recognition and included an unfair caveat that later terminated it. After more than a century of advocacy, the Lumbee are now the largest federally recognized tribe east of the Mississippi River and only the second tribe with full federal recognition based in North Carolina.

Elizabeth E. Lowry, a member of First United Methodist Church in Pembroke and a student at UNC-Pembroke, said, “As I watched the US Senate vote on December 18, 2025, after 137 years of our Lumbee People trying to secure federal recognition, I thought of my father, Ronald Andrade, and how he worked in Washington, D.C., for years with the National Congress for American Indians helping not only Lumbees but all USA tribes. If he were still alive, I know he would be celebrating with us on this very important time in our history.”

Lumbee Methodists

The Lumbee people have been hearing God’s word preached by Methodist preachers since the late 18th century, as far back as Francis Asbury. The Robeson Circuit was created in 1855 and included Indian members. Lumbee Methodist churches were established, and Lumbee pastors were ordained. Rev. Simeon F. Cummings was the first full-time Native American United Methodist Minister in the NC Conference, beginning his ministry in 1953. He was also the first Lumbee elected to a staff position on the NC Conference Council on Ministries as Coordinator of Outreach Ministries in 1973. Lumbees have continued to serve in leadership positions in the NC Conference. Rev. Dr. Sam Wynn was the first Lumbee to serve as District Superintendent, followed by Rev. Dr. Kenneth Locklear and Rev. Jerry Lowry, who was well known in the NC Conference for building and growing churches and leading community service efforts. Robby Lowry was the first Lumbee Conference Lay Leader, later to be followed by Gary Wayne Locklear. The Gary Wayne Locklear Mission Endowment was established after his death and continues to fund ministries throughout the NC Conference.

Pamela Brayboy Baker, member of First United Methodist Church in Pembroke and NC Conference Coordinator of the Native American Cooperative Ministry, recalled the conference’s involvement in Lumbee tribal recognition: “Tears of joy and much thankfulness have flowed throughout Lumbeeland since the signing of the bill federally recognizing The People of The Dark Water. During the previous Lumbee Tribal Administration, the NC Conference and Rev. Benjamin B. Roberts supported the bill’s history endeavors by securing UMC General Board of Church and Society housing assistance for Lumbee Tribe Council members while attending recognition meetings in Washington, D.C. We faithfully believed it would happen. Thanks be to God.”

Lumbee Ministry Continues

United Methodist ministry continues in the Lumbee Tribe. The Native American Cooperative Ministry (NACM) organized and promoted many outreach, community, and spiritual development events in 2025. Branch Street UMC, Pleasant Grove UMC, and First UMC in Pembroke operated a summer literacy program funded by The Duke Endowment. Service events included distributing food, raising awareness of substance abuse, and organizing community cleanups. NACM also hosted and participated in children’s events, holiday celebrations, and events that shared and honored Native American history.

“What Lumbee federal recognition means to me and our tribal members is what we have always known, who we are and to whom we belong. Past, present, and future Lumbee generations have and will continue to progress in our cultural four directions for education, social issues, and justice for all people in church, school, community, and God’s favor of this world. Praise God for His Blessings on the Lumbee people,” said Larmari Louise Mitchell. Mitchell is a member of Ashpole Center UMC in Rowland, Chairperson of the NC Conference NACM, and a writer of the Lumbee Tribal Constitution. She served two terms on the Lumbee Tribal Council and served as a Lumbee Election Board Member, 2019-2025.

Benediction and Blessing

Yvonne Barnes Dial, a member of First UMC in Pembroke who served two terms on the Lumbee Tribal Council, gives us a benediction for the Lumbee tribal recognition:

“As a Lumbee nation, God blessed us to have great leaders over a century ago who knew who we were, what we were, and whose we were. They approached the United States leaders to request federal recognition for the Lumbee people. They allowed God to direct them to follow the Father’s commands, and in return, teach, direct, and protect the rights of our people. When America failed to acknowledge us or even consider our welfare, our people struggled and, with excessive determination, envisioned God and placed Him first to fight our battles. We worshiped God and created an education system for our children and people, thus creating the first Native American college in the United States, The University of North Carolina at Pembroke. Honoring our ancestors, we continued their quest. Federal recognition serves as a long-awaited and deserved acknowledgement and realization of dedicated sacrifice. May we seek to conquer and master for all mankind ‘the fruit of the Spirit of love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law’ (Galatians 5:22-23).”

Photos provided by Pamela Brayboy Baker.