June 4, 2009
LAKE JUNALUSKA, N.C. –The Native American Summer Conference, scheduled June 26-28 at Lake Junaluska Conference & Retreat Center, is titled “Giving our Hearts Away: Native American Survival.” The event is designed to celebrate and experience the diversity and uniqueness of Native Americans, to enhance one’s knowledge about various issues from a social, contemporary, spiritual, and cultural perspective, and to learn and explore new and innovative ministry models.
“We are excited about this year’s 21st Annual Native American Summer Conference at Lake Junaluska. It is a special time of educational and vocational training, spiritual strengthening, renewal, and focusing on inter-tribal and intra-tribal ministries with United Methodist native people across the Southeastern Jurisdiction,” said Jimmy Carr, Executive Director of Lake Junaluska.
Keynote speaker for the conference and guest speaker for Stuart Auditorium is Rev. Dr. Thom White Wolf Fassett. This year’s theme centers on the curriculum developed and written by Dr. Fassett. Dr. Fassett has served as Special Assistant to the United States Senate and House of Representatives conducting investigations into Federal/Indian policy. He has also served as Superintendent of the UMC in Alaska and General Secretary of the General Board of Church and Society.
“We are especially honored and very proud to have this distinguished Native American leader and author with us,” said Darlene Jacobs, Director of SEJANAM.
Other national and guest speakers include Rev. Anita Phillips, Director the Native American Comprehensive Plan (NACP) for the UMC; Dr. Anne Marshall, Chair of the Native American International Caucus (NAIC); Rev. Dr. Kenneth Locklear, Pastor of Prospect UMC, which is the largest Native church in the southeast; and GBGM Home Missioner Gary Locklear.
The well-written and documented curriculum is the focus of a Christian Mission Studies, which is sponsored by the Women’s Division with GBGM. One of the focal points of the event is a book signing with Dr. Fassett at Cokesbury on the Lake Junaluska campus.
“We want folks to come and meet author Dr. Fassett, learn about issues and the Native experience in this country and we want everyone that participates in this Native American gathering leave with a feeling of encountering God and having a wonderful Lake Junaluska experience!” Jacobs said.
For additional information, call Darlene Jacobs at 1.828.454.6724 or e-mail her at djacobs@lakejunaluska.com.
SEJANAM is the advocate for twenty-three Native American congregations and four other ministries on reservations in the Southeast Jurisdiction.