The Southeastern Jurisdictional Agency on Native American Ministries (SEJANAM) was created by Native Americans and established by the 1984 Jurisdictional Conference to help create: Awareness and Dialogue, New Congregations and Ministries, Leadership Enlistment and Training, Inter-Tribal Witness/Sharing, Cross Cultural Witness/Sharing, and Sensitivity to Inclusiveness. SEJANAM serves the fifteen annual conferences of the SEJ, twenty-three Native American churches, three ministries of the SEJ, and seeks to serve approximately 210,000 Native Americans of the nine southeastern states of the SEJ.
Mission Statement
National Native American Team Travels the Gulf Region
Bolivia Mission Project (Click here for article)
A Bolivia Work-Team Experience (summer)
Governors Commission on Community Service (click here)
NC Commission of Indian Affairs (click here)
Triangle Native American Society (click here)
National Congress of American Indians (click here)
Native American Clergy and Laity Retreat
Native American Clergy and Laity Retreat Gathered at SEJ
Jacobs leads retreat |
Lake Junaluska, N.C.: SEJANAM, the Southeastern Jurisdictional Agency for Native American Ministries held its annual Ministers and Laity Retreat February 7-9 at Lake Junaluska.
The gathering brought pastors and laypersons together from six of the nine states in the Southeastern Jurisdiction.The final part of a four part series, this year’s retreat entitled “Walking in the Spirit of the Creator” set the tone for study, worship, and reflection for ministers, lay persons and youth throughout the Native American churches and ministries comprising the Southeastern Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church.
Workshops focused on opportunities for church spiritual growth, healing and leadership development.
“Excitement was in the air about this year’s retreat and training,” Rev. Myles Pierson, President of SEJANAM said. “We were ecstatic with the amount of representation from six of the nine states. I believe bringing this number together reflects the vital need for this event.” Pierson also said that this is a special time of educational and vocational training, spiritual strengthening and renewal for our Native clergy and laity that they otherwise would not receive.
Leo Jacobs, Florida Annual Conference, was a first time attendant. He was excited about the event.
“The speakers were great and very inspirational. This event is a wonderful opportunity to learn, share and talk about issues that face Indian Methodists and churches. The event was truly inspirational and I can’t wait to get back and share this experience with our CONAM members!” he said.
SEJANAM Executive Director Darlene Jacobs said she hopes all who attended the event will be implement the knowledge gained and experiences afforded by the retreat and apply it in our church planning for the present and the future.
SEJANAM is the advocate for 23 Native American congregations and three other ministries in the Southeast Jurisdiction. For more information, contact Darlene Jacobs, Executive Director, at 828-454-6724. or send your emails to djacobs@lakejunaluska.com