July 11, 1942-January 9, 2022

1977-1981 NC Conference Youth and Young Adult Coordinator

1998-2005 Rockingham District Superintendent

NC Conference Local Church Clergy

Retirement 2005

I met Rev. John Edward Morrison in June of 1978 at the UMC North Carolina Annual Conference, Methodist College, Fayetteville, North Carolina. He talked about the importance of encouraging rural community youth, especially ethnic youth, to participate in NCCUMC Youth Events. So during the 1978 Fall and 1979 Spring Native American Cooperative Ministry Youth Rallies, Rev. Ed registered 30 Native American youth for the July 1979 Annual Conference Session for Youth (ACS). In 1980, 60 ethnic youth attended ACS and engaged in other conference-wide events. He launched an excitement that permeated the NCCUMC.

Rev. Morrison proposed the t-shirt idea pictured below for the 1987 Annual Conference Session for Youth. He wanted all God’s children to be able to gather, play, worship, sing, and share experiences.

Over the next 30 years, NCCUMC youth from all cultural backgrounds have played a significant role in the comprehensive plan to include all peoples of The UMC.

The Native American Cooperative Ministry, NCCUMC (established in June 1978) would like to acknowledge the continuous love, compassion, and big smile Rev. John Edward Morrison portrayed, mentoring youth and leaders to fulfill the mission of the church.

Article and photos by Pam Baker, NC Conference Native American Cooperative Ministry.