The Synods’ Native American Consulting Committee met in Seattle the weekend of September 12-13, 2009. The following actions took place during their meeting:
- The Committee adopted a Resolution to Honor Senator Ted Kennedy for his tireless work on behalf of American Indians and Alaska Natives. See the Resolution. View photo of NACC member Isabella Brady with Sen. Kennedy.
- The Committee is seeking to interview and record the stories of some of the very senior graduates of Sheldon Jackson College. The graduates have made a notable impact on the current status of life in Alaska. Their influence needs to be recorded for posterity. Copies will be filed with the Presbyterian Historical Society and Whitworth University.
- The Committee joins many in praying that the Trustees of Dubuque Theological School will be led to open a satellite campus on the Sheldon Jackson Campus in Sitka, AK.
- The Committee was to remind congregations that September 22 is Native American Day. Check www.pcusa.org/nativeamerican for suggestions and resources for celebrating the day. Next year the Synod NACC will have their one face-to-face meeting close to the day and will make themselves available to speak at local congregations. Specific suggestions for this region will be available on the Synod website.
- Several grants were made to honor efforts to support ministry with Native Americans across our Synod.
There are 26 constituent Native American congregations within the Synod of Alaska-Northwest. Following is a list of congregations by Presbytery:
Presbytery of Alaska
First Presbyterian Church (Craig, AK)
Frances Johnson Memorial (Angoon, AK)
Hoonah Presbyterian Church (Hoonah, AK)
Hydaburg Presbyterian Church (Hydaburg, AK)
Kake Memorial Presbyterian Church (Kake, AK)
Metlakatla Presbyterian Church (Metlakatla, AK)
Yakutat Presbyterian Church (Yakutat, AK)
Presbytery of Central Washington
Mending Wings Ministries (Wapato, WA)
College Place First Presbyterian Church (College Place, WA)
Presbytery of Inland Northwest
Nez Pearce Presbyterian Churches -- Moderator of Joint Session: Corbett Wheeler
Talmaks Presbyterian Church Camp Meeting (Craigmont, ID)
Northfork Presbyterian Church (Lapwai, ID)
First Presbyterian Church (Kamiah, ID)
Second Presbyterian Church (Kamiah, ID)
First Presbyterian Church (Spalding, ID)
Presbytery of North Puget Sound
Neah Bay Presbyterian Church (Neah Bay, WA)
Presbytery of Olympia
Church of the Indian Fellowship (Tacoma, WA)
Presbytery of Yukon
Anchor Presbyterian Church (Anchorage, AK)
Atqasuk Chapel Presbyterian Church (Atqasuk, AK)
Chapel in the Mountains (Anaktuvuk Pass, AK)
Gambell Presbyterian Church (Gambell, AK)
Kaktovik Presbyterian Church (Kaktovik, AK)
Kuukpik Presbyterian Church (Nuiqsut, AK)
Nome Presbyterian Church (Nome, AK)
Olgonik Presbyterian Church (Wainwright, AK)
Savoonga Presbyterian Church (Savoonga, AK)
Utkeagvik Presbyterian Church (Barrow, AK)
NACC Facts
- The committee is composed of seven (7) members (one (1) Native American Presbyterian from each presbytery) in approximately equal classes.
- Members are nominated by presbyteries to the Synod Nominating Committee and elected by the Synod.
- Terms are three (3) years, and no one shall serve more than six (6) consecutive years.
- Terms begin at the conclusion of the meeting at which members are elected.
- The NACC Moderator is nominated from Committee members by the Nominating Committee and elected by the Synod.
NACC Members
The following persons currently serve on the Native American Consulting Committee:
|
Name |
Presbytery |
| Carol Moon, Moderator |
OLY |
| Isabella Brady, Co-Moderator |
AK |
|
Corbett Wheeler |
INW |
|
Rev. James Nageak |
YUK |
|
Sofia Porter |
SEA |
|
Staff |
|
|
Rev. Joyce Martin Emery, Transitional Synod Executive, jemery@synodnw.org |
Vacancies
We currently have three vacancies on NACC in the following presbyteries:
Responsibilities
Through the Native American Consulting Committee, the Synod shall develop, conduct, and fund programs that minister to the needs of Native Americans and assist the Synod in promoting inclusiveness in its organization and programming.