Sand Creek Massacre Petition Passes the Plenary

Monday morning, April 30, a proposed non-disciplinary legislation on the 1864 Sand Creek Massacre has passed the Plenary at the General Conference in Tampa. The petition asks the 2012 General Conference to do the following:

*To fully recognize the Northern Cheyenne Tribe of Montana, and the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma, and the Northern Arapaho of Wyoming as the Federally recognized Tribes as stated in the 1865 Treaty of Little Arkansas with the US government.

*To consult on and support efforts pertaining to preservation, repatriations with the four tribes mentioned above (through the council of Bishops and the appropriate boards and agencies)

*To authorize research by a joint team including an independent body and provide full disclosure of the involvement and influence in the Sand Creek Massacre and report back to the 2016 General Conference (through the Council of Bishops and the General Commission on Archives and History).

*To support and participate in the return to the “Tribes” of any Native artifacts or remains related to the Sand Creek Massacre.


Like what you're reading? Support the ministry of UM News! Your support ensures the latest denominational news, dynamic stories and informative articles will continue to connect our global community. Make a tax-deductible donation at ResourceUMC.org/GiveUMCom.

Sign up for our newsletter!

Subscribe Now
Church Leadership
Participants in the 2025 United Methodist Church Deacons Gathering sing during opening worship at the Upper Room Chapel in Nashville, Tenn. From left are the Rev. Shannon Howard, the Rev. Tina Marie Rees, the Rev. Sherry Brady and Candace Brady. A focus of the event was deacons’ new sacramental authority approved at last year’s General Conference. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Deacons explore new sacramental authority

United Methodist deacons are discussing best practices now that General Conference has approved their new responsibility to preside at baptism and communion “when contextually appropriate.”
General Agencies
Delegates prepare to do their legislative work during the 2024 United Methodist General Conference in Charlotte, N.C., in Charlotte, NC. The board of the General Council on Finance and Administration approved a request for $1.5 million to pay for a whole software system to track legislation at General Conference. The current system has been in use for nearly 40 years. Photo by Larry McCormack, UM News.

Big update planned for General Conference tech

The United Methodist Church’s finance agency board approved a $1.5 million grant for the first major upgrade of General Conference’s legislative tracker in decades.
Human Sexuality
Mountain Sky Conference Bishop Kristin Stoneking gives the benediction at the closing worship of Reconciling Ministries Network’s convocation held at First United Methodist Church in downtown Madison, Wis. The July 24-27 convocation, with the theme “Uncharted,” celebrated the removal of denomination-wide restrictions targeting LGBTQ people and also acknowledged the challenges ahead in a new denominational landscape. Photo by Joscie Cutchens, UM News.

LGBTQ advocates head for ‘uncharted’ territory

With The United Methodist Church’s removal of anti-gay stances, advocates for LGBTQ equality see reasons to celebrate but also challenges ahead in the denomination and wider world.

United Methodist Communications is an agency of The United Methodist Church

©2025 United Methodist Communications. All Rights Reserved