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Oklahoma Indian Missionary Annual Conference
June 8-11, Anadarko, Okla.

The theme for this conference 164th session of the Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference was “We’ve come this far by faith,” with Bishop Robert E. Hayes Jr. preaching at three of the four worship services.  The conference began with a procession of flags representing Native tribes and entities from throughout the conference.  Nearly 40 flags were raised and set on stage for the four-day conference.  The worship service on the opening night was also dedicated to remembering all of those who have gone on before us. Members sang a traditional flag song during the posting of the United States flag and a memorial song in remembrance of all of who’d died. The Native drum group Sovo, from the Little Washita United Methodist Church near Lawton, Okla. provided the music.

On Friday evening the conference’s clergywomen held a special service commemorating the 50th anniversary of full clergy rights for women in the Methodist Church.  The Rev. Frankie Johnson, recently appointed district superintendent in the Oklahoma Conference, preached the evening sermon. Johnson is the first African-American Female District Superintendent in the Oklahoma Conference.  The worship service also included the reading of the accomplishments of the conference’s clergywomen. A plaque of recognition was given to Mrs. Ida Kaubin, daughter of the Rev. Hazel Botone, the first woman to be ordained in the Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference.  In addition, a presentation was given outlining the work of the clergywomen throughout the past 30 years in the conference and a prayer was also given for them.

The business of the conference included a passing a resolution about the importance of Native languages and its use in our churches. The resolution called for the organization of a Native language contest to be held at the annual conference session and each local church would enter a children’s choir that would perform a series of Native hymns. The contest would hopefully promote the use and teaching of indigenous languages throughout the conference.

In addition wording was added to the resolution stating that: “THEREFORE, we recognize in spite of America’s efforts to limit the official language to English only, that we have a right to speak the language of this land, and that using our languages is an important expression of our original sovereignty.” The resolution was passed on to the Conference Council on Local Church Ministries for further action. 

The conference also celebrated the contributions of the Rev. Lester Tims, who served as a district superintendent for 14 years throughout his clergy career.  Tims, who began his service in the Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference in the mid-1960’s, will be changing appointments and serving as pastor at Bobby-Myers and Old Cedar United Methodist churches.  Replacing Tims as district superintendent will be the Rev. Margaret Battiest, a member of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, and she will be serving the Northern District of the conference. Battiest has served the Little Washita and Hunting Horse United Methodist churches for the past five years.

The 2007 OIMC Annual Conference session will be held at the Northeast Regional Center near Preston, Okla.

Membership stands at 6,237, down 16 from the previous year. Worship attendance stands at 2,056, down 19. Church school attendance stands at 1,984, up 19.