Act of Repentance stirs and challenges

“An Act of Repentance toward Healing Relationships with Indigenous Peoples” engaged the 2012 General Conference to remember, repent and make a commitment to an ongoing transformational relationship with Indigenous Peoples. Dr. Thom White Wolf Fassett spoke “From the People.” Dr. George Tinker’s “word” encouraged all to make “No Apologies. Just Repent. Seriously.” The music of Marcus Briggs-Cloud was stirring. Delegates were invited to collect a rock from the symbolic river that ran along the center aisle of the plenary floor and to keep that rock as a reminder and active symbol encouraging continuing repentance.


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Global Health
The Rev. Dr. Don Messer. Photo by David Stucke, Dakotas Conference.

On World AIDS Day, church called to bold action

With the dismantling of so much life-saving U.S. international aid, the Rev. Dr. Donald W. Messer writes The United Methodist Church needs to step up in its longtime commitment to combat HIV.
Social Concerns
Barbara Braided Hair, left, teaches members of First United Methodist Church in Sheridan, Wyo., how to make fry bread. Barbara is the late wife of Otto Braided Hair Jr., a Sand Creek Massacre descendants representative of the Northern Cheyenne tribe in Lame Deer, Mont., who helped educate church members about the 1864 massacre led by Methodists. The dialogue sparked a two-decade relationship between the church’s Native American Committee and the Northern Cheyenne tribe. File photo courtesy of First UMC Sheridan.

Church forges ties with Sand Creek Massacre descendants

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General Church
The Rev. Dr. Luan-Vu “Lui” Tran. Photo courtesy of author.

After regionalization, church must prioritize unity

Regionalization can make The United Methodist Church more just, nimble and truly global. The crucial question now is how we remain one church.

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