The Native American International Caucus (NAIC), a UMC-affiliated caucus, received a grant in December from the General Board of Church and Society (GBCS) to support its 2023 Family Camp for Native American United Methodist Families. The camp, scheduled for July 20-23 at the Asbury Retreat Center in Silver Lake, NY, near Niagara Falls, is returning after a hiatus due to the Covid pandemic.
“Bishop John Schol graciously accepted the grant on behalf of the NAIC,” reports Cynthia Mosley (Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape), chair of GNJ’s Committee on Native American Ministries and a NAIC board member-at-large. “The GNJ will hold the money and distribute it for general operating expenses for the Family Camp.”
The camp agenda will include education about Murdered and Missing indigenous Women (MMIW), former Native American Boarding Schools, healthy lifestyles and other important concerns.
“We are hoping churches may provide camperships for Native American families who cannot afford the modest tuition and travel,” said Mosley, who recently appealed for camperships at a Jan. 14 regional meeting of United Women in Faith. “Family Camp is a great experience for tribal families.”
Mosley speaks on Native American issues to UWF group
Cynthia Wilks-Mosley, chairwoman of GNJ’s Committee on Native American Ministry (CONAM) presented a PowerPoint presentation titled “We are Still Here,” on Native American issues to the United Women in Faith’s online winter Call to Action meeting, Jan. 14. Along with issues of concern, she appealed for support for camperships to help Native American families attend the 2023 NAIC Family Camp, July 20-23 at Silver Lake, NY.
View a video-recording of Mosley’s presentation: (423) NativeAmericanIssues1 14 23 – YouTube).
GBCS awarded over $98,000 in Peace with Justice, Human Relations Day and Ethnic Local Church grants for 2022.