Support UM News on World Press Freedom Day: Give to help sustain and expand the storytelling capacity of UM News. Your donation today will transform information into inspiration and ensure we can continue sharing stories of God’s work in the world through The UMC. Help us reach our $10,000 goal and keep this vital ministry fair, faithful, trusted and free for all!

Sand Creek Massacre research center supported

Editor's note: Third paragraph, starting with "The Sand Creek", corrected on March 20, 2012 to reflect that Col. John Chivington was a Methodist pastor.

Support for The United Methodist Church to contribute $50,000 to the development of a research and learning center at the Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site was expressed April 28 in action by General Conference 2008.

The Rev. Alvin Deer

The United Methodist Church's top legislative body authorized the contribution. However, the action will not be final until the conference adopts the denomination's 2009-2012 budget May 2.

The Sand Creek Massacre National Historical Site is a memorial to more than 160 Native Americans mostly women and children who were massacred in 1864 by troops led by a Methodist pastor, Col. John Chivington. The historic site, 160 miles southeast of Denver, opened to the public in June 2007.

In 1996, the United Methodist General Conference expressed regret for the Sand Creek massacre and issued an apology for the "actions of a prominent Methodist."

The United Methodist Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns will work with the United States National Park Service to develop the Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site Research and Learning Center, according to the petition passed by a vote of 426 to 378.

"This is an act that the whole church needs to own," said Lonnie Brooks, a delegate from the Alaska Missionary Conference and board member of the United Methodist Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns.

Opposition to the legislation focused on finances because the $50,000 contribution is not part of the $642 million general church budget. "It should have been included in the budget," said Jeff Jernigan, a lay delegate from North Georgia.

"We really need to show that we're in support of healing the generations (of Cheyenne people) that have come out of that story. This is a good thing that the church is doing to fund this," said the Rev. Alvin Deer, former executive director of the Native American International Caucus.

Josh Davies, a lay delegate from the Rocky Mountain Conference, said, "I urge members to please do our part to wipe this smear off our history."

*White is associate editor of Interpreter magazine.

News media contact: Deborah White, e-mail: newsdesk@umcom.org.

Phone calls can be made to the General Conference Newsroom in Fort Worth, Texas, at (817) 698-4405 until May 3. Afterward, call United Methodist News Service in Nashville, Tenn., at (615) 742-5470.


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
General Conference
The Rev. Gabriel Banga Mususwa. Photo courtesy of the author.

An appeal to hold General Conference outside US

The United Methodist Church’s top assembly has never met in the central conferences; the decision to hold the 2028 gathering in Minneapolis should be rescinded.
General Conference
The Minneapolis Convention Center stands in downtown Minneapolis, Minn. United Methodist organizers plan to make good on the original location of the COVID-delayed 2020 General Conference, choosing Minneapolis as the host city for the next legislative assembly scheduled for May 8-18, 2028. Photo by Dan Anderson, courtesy of Meet Minneapolis. (www.minneapolis.org)

Minneapolis chosen for 2028 General Conference

United Methodist organizers plan to make good on the original location of the COVID-delayed 2020 lawmaking assembly. They also hope to make up the budget deficit from earlier sessions.
Human Sexuality
The Rev. Izzy Alvaran (right) and others pray together on May 1 after the 2024 United Methodist General Conference, meeting in Charlotte, N.C., voted to remove the denomination's ban on the ordination of "self-avowed practicing” gay clergy — a prohibition that dated to 1984. Alvaran is on the staff of the Reconciling Ministries Network, which has unveiled a new strategic plan after success at last year’s General Conference. File photo by Paul Jeffrey, UM News.

LGBTQ advocates aim to build on 2024 gains

Reconciling Ministries Network, after success at last year’s General Conference, hopes to help the emerging United Methodist Church live into a more inclusive future.

United Methodist Communications is an agency of The United Methodist Church

©2025 United Methodist Communications. All Rights Reserved