Sand Creek Massacre research center supported

Descendants of survivors of the 1864 Sand Creek massacre attend the April 2007 dedication of the Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site near Chivington, Colo. A UMNS file photo by the Rev. Carol Lakota Eastin.

By Deborah White*

FORT WORTH, Texas (UMNS)—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 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 lay preacher, 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